Back to School, 2022

We’re almost back to school, AP! Are you ready? I know the teachers are, in fact, they are back at it already, preparing for Monday, August 15th. In fact, our entire summer was spent gearing up for the new school year. You can learn about many of our training efforts that went into preparing to make this school a fun and safe one, AP. Much of our training emphasized school safety and medical first response.

Walkers

Educate your children about the basic rules of the road. For example:

  • Never cross during a red light, wait for green,
  • Wear visible or reflective clothing,
  • Use known and direct routes to and from school,
  • Walk in groups. It’s safer.

Parents, teach your children to avoid suspicious locations, situations, or people and report those instances to a person of trust (teacher, police officer, or other trusted adult). A good way to know and avoid some of these places is by visiting our Sex Offender Page, the Texas DPS Sex Offender Map, and clicking on the dots in the iOS and Android app, Life360.

Cyclists

Cyclists must obey the rules of the road. This means cyclists must stop for red lights and stop signs, etc.

Bicycles must be equipped with – front & rear reflectors and a red taillight & clear headlights (after dark). It’s always a good idea to wear bright or reflective clothing too, just like walkers.

Motorists

HANG UP AND DRIVE! – Using your cell phone for calls or texting is prohibited citywide, not just in a school zone. You will receive a citation, so hang up and drive. We’ll be watching!

Again, plan for traffic and delays. It’s always busy the first few weeks of school. Be mindful of children on bikes and on foot, because they may have an occasional tendency to dart out in front of you.

Plan ahead! The first few days of school are hectic and full of traffic. Prepare the day before and plan on leaving a bit early and spending some extra time getting your little ones off. We also have many new residents and students in town. Welcome to AP!

Tools & Info for Parents

Life360

Remember, we partner with Life360. It’s free and a good way to keep track of the family while the kiddos are off to school and the adults are off to work. I personally have used them in my family for years. I believe so strongly in their service, I am a paid member today. APPD shares crime data directly to them so you too can keep tabs on public safety activity around the areas your loved ones frequent. Here’s how to see that data:

* Locations are rounded to block numbers to protect privacy. Sensitive matters or matters of personal security like extra patrols are excluded.

If you have any questions or comments about this service, feel free to contact me.

Emergency Response SRP Program

What’s New in 2023?

No worries – no significant changes have been made to the Standard Response Protocol, but it has been updated to provide additional guidance and detail. The Standard Response Protocol 2023 includes additional guidance and detail around conducting drills, messaging to parents and guardians, sequencing of the actions, and environmental factors that may impact decisions.

The supporting materials (handouts, posters, etc.) will remain unchanged. The Classroom Instructor Guide will be updated, but the existing 2021 Classroom Instructor Guide will remain valid.

Standard Response Protocol is the emergency response mechanism we utilized throughout APISD and the City of Aransas Pass. We encourage businesses, private organizations, and our parents and visitors to familiarize themselves with this program. Learn the common language and know what’s going on in the event we issue a public notification of a lockdown, hold, secure, etc.

Easy to understand.
Easy to implement.

A uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school. Safe business. Safe community. The SRP is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to personal safety.

The SRP’s development is ever-evolving, created with extensive collaboration between experts such as first responders, public safety, school, districts, and communities. Its tactics are data-driven, researched and based on experience and contemporary practices.

On the Same Page. Everyone.

The benefits of SRP become quickly apparent. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event.

For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For communities, it leverages the growing adoption of the protocols from residents of all ages. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident.

People easily understand the practices and can reinforce the protocol. Additionally, this protocol enables rapid response determination when an unforeseen event occurs.

SRP is Action Based

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on the response to any given situation not on individual scenarios. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), SRP demands a specific vocabulary but also allows for great flexibility. The premise is simple – these five specific actions that can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a “Term of Art” and is then followed by a “Directive.” Execution of the action is performed by active participants.

Hold - in your classroom or areaHold is followed by the Directive: “In Your Room or Area” and is the protocol used when hallways need to kept clear of occupants.
Secure - Get Inside. Lock Outside DoorsSecure is followed by the Directive: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors” and is the protocol used to safeguard people within the building.
Lockdown - Locks, Lights, Out of SightLockdown is followed by “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight” and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place.
Evacuate - to a stated locationEvacuate and may be followed by a location, and is used to move people from one location to a different location in or out of the building.
Shelter - State the hazard and the safety strategyShelter State the Hazard and Safety Strategy for group and self-protection.

Information provided courtesy of the “I Love U Guys” Foundation.