Safety
Statistics consistently show that schools are among the safest places to be due to the strong commitment of educators, families, and our community to our students and schools. We strive to be proactive rather than reactive. The Franklin Special District is committed to school safety and has implemented the standards in the Tennessee Schools Against Violence in Tennessee (SAVE) Act in creating a more coordinated approach to school safety using Homeland Security’s National Incident Management System (NIMS). District and individual school policies were developed with the able assistance of community partners, local responders, and non-profit agencies.
Safety training occurs for staff and students throughout the school year, and school emergency operations plans are modified as needed in order to improve procedures. Within each school, training drills are conducted on a monthly basis that include the following: fire, severe weather (tornado, earthquake) and intruder. All drills are conducted with a preventative focus to be prepared for such emergencies.
The FSD Safety Supervisor is responsible for keeping the schools’ safety plans current and up to date according to state and federal guidelines. The safety supervisor meets regularly with administrators to discuss schools safety needs, provides resources as needed, and collaborates regularly with community first responders. In addition to providing support and collaboration, the safety supervisor provides training to SROs, teachers, and administrators as needed.
Please look over the information below to see how the FSD is addressing the critical areas of school safety.
- Alerts and Weather Warnings
- Internet Safety
- Safe and Healthy Schools
- Safety Plan and Glossary
- School Emergencies
- SROs
- Threat Assessment Protocol
- Visitor Protocols
Alerts and Weather Warnings
Weather Emergency
The Franklin Special District Central Office monitors severe weather watches and warnings and maintains contact with the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service during the threat of severe weather.
Tornado Warnings
If the district is placed under a Tornado Warning by the National Weather Service, all schools will use the “Shelter in Place” protocol. Students will remain in their buildings (which is one of the safest shelters in a storm) and may be released when the warning has been lifted. If parents are on campus when a warning is issued, they are encouraged to come into the building where they will be directed to a safe area.
If a Tornado Warning occurs during dismissal, students will be instructed to remain in their classrooms or hallways, and parents and bus drivers will be invited into the schools until the warning is lifted.
The FSD will use the ParentSquare communications platform to notify parents of any changes in dismissal or after-school activities due to severe weather warnings.
ParentSquare Posts and Alerts
The Franklin Special School District uses a communications platform to help keep parents connected to their children’s schools. Called ParentSquare, this school-to-parent communications platform enables the district to send periodic and personalized voice messages to parents within minutes.
ParentSquare is used to complement our emergency preparedness procedures and to inform parents of unplanned school closings or upcoming school events.
To update your contact information, please contact your school office.
Internet Safety
The FSD partners with Internet safety experts to provide timely and relevant information to parents and students.
Digital Dangers Video Series
The following Williamson County Schools video series, Digital Dangers, features important information from Tennessee-based Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Dennis Fetting.
Video 1: Williamson County is Not Immune
Video 2: Parental Involvement is Key
Video 3: Sexting
Video 4: Snapchat
Video 5: Photo Lockers
Video 6: The Consequences of Sexting
Video 7: Grooming Tactics
Video 8: Fake Profiles
For more internet safety resources, please visit FSD Instructional Technology.
Safe and Healthy Schools
Safe and Healthy Schools
In addition to preparedness, school safety also uses resources from the federal Safe and Supportive Schools Office (OSSS), which addresses:
- the health and well-being of students
- school safety, security, and emergency management and preparedness
OSSS administers, coordinates, and recommends policy as well as administers grant programs and technical assistance centers addressing the overall safe and health school community.
Safe and supportive schools are critical to the well-being of the whole school community as well as the academic success of students. The Department of Education provides schools, school districts, and state education agencies with resources aimed at creating and nurturing positive school climates; preventing school violence; and protecting the whole school community through school safety, security, and emergency management and preparedness planning. The program offices, grant programs, and technical assistance centers all respond to the recommendations put forth by the Federal Commission on School Safety and serve practitioners as they work to continually protect their school community students, staff, and families.
The FSD works within the federal guidelines to implement programs related to developing and maintaining safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools. It also works with approved programs that promote violence prevention, alcohol abuse prevention, and the health and well-being of students and families.
Safety Plan and Glossary
Safety Plan
The Franklin Special District, Williamson County School District, and many Williamson County first responders collaborate to ensure the school safety plans reflect best practices. The Safety Plan streamlines emergency procedures in all schools and uses common language so, no matter what the emergency, all involved are speaking the same language and responding in a consistent manner across all of the schools in Williamson County.
First responders played a large role in the creation of this plan. Their input is crucial so that, in the event their response is needed at a school, they know that the schools are all working from similar plans.
Safety Plan Glossary
Reverse Evacuation: Students/Staff who are outside are required to come back into the school and stay in the school until further notice. Example: potential severe weather.
Shelter-In-Place: Students/Staff who are outside are required to re-enter the school. The building is locked and no one enters or leaves until further notice. Normal activities resume inside the school; however, based on the nature of the emergency, activities may be interrupted. Examples: severe weather, police activity in the vicinity, or tornado.
Evacuation: Students/Staff may evacuate the school for a multitude of reasons, including fire, smoke, or hazardous materials. The staff are trained on evacuation locations based on the nature of the emergency.
Reunification: Should the students/staff need to be evacuated to a location off the school campus, each school has a designated location(s) where they would be transported. At this location, the students would be reunified with parents/guardians following a specific procedure. Families will be notified through Blackboard Connect of the reunification site at the time of the evacuation.
Lockdown: Students/Staff are trained in specific procedures on how to respond to a lockdown. An example of this protocol would include an unauthorized intruder in the building.
Community Collaboration: The FSD works with many community partners:
- Red Cross
- Williamson Juvenile Court
- Williamson County Sheriff’s Department
- Franklin Police Department
- Franklin Fire Department
- Williamson County Emergency Management Agency
- Williamson County Schools
- Williamson Medical Center
- The Guidance Center
- Mercy Community Health
School Emergencies
In the Event of a School Emergency:
- Parent/Child Reunification: Parents should wait for a notification from the media or a phone call from the FSD before coming to the school. We understand the desire parents have to pick up their children as soon as possible; however, under certain circumstances, students may have to be moved to an alternate location for parent reunification. There are also scenarios that may require police intervention and emergency response. This will mean limited access by parents until the site is cleared by law enforcement. We do not want to limit any of our schools from a full emergency response, if necessary, by blocking access to the schools.
- Think Ahead: Parents need to make certain that anyone authorized to pick up children after a crisis situation has placed their name on the child’s release list at school. Students will not be released to anyone who has not been authorized in writing in advance. This applies to relatives, friends and/or neighbors. Phone calls will not be accepted. Please take care of these arrangements ahead of time by properly filling out your child’s enrollment form, complete with contacts who are authorized to take your children home from school.
- Volunteer Assistance: After an event, many people want to help. If the FSD has a crisis or emergency event and needs volunteers to help, we will rely on our community partner, the American Red Cross, for training. Because the school district will not have time to do the required background checks on volunteers, and even less time to train volunteers, we rely on the expertise of the Red Cross for the volunteer screening and training. This is a valuable community resource that the district is grateful to have.
SROs
School Resource Officers (SROs) are law enforcement officers who work inside school buildings in order to contribute to a safe school environment, and also to serve as educators pertaining to the topics of drugs, alcohol, and/or student safety. School Resource Officers serve three main functions – as a police officer in the school setting, as a resource and problem solver, and as a facilitator in the development of teaching safety skills. We are extremely grateful for the FSD SROs, which are provided by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and are in EVERY school. They help maintain safety in the buildings, as they are the first responders to any emergencies and also act as a liaison between the WCSO and administration.
The District has had SROs in place since 2013, following the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, and the deputies are certified by the National Association of School Resource Officers.
Threat Assessment Protocol
Threat assessment represents an important component of a comprehensive approach to school safety. It’s a violence prevention strategy that involves: (a) identifying student threats against students, staff, or property, (b) determining the seriousness of the threat, and (c) developing intervention plans that protect potential victims and address the underlying problem or conflict that stimulated the threatening behavior. The development and use of threat assessment teams to identify potential risks is essential to preventing targeted acts of violence in school and is considered a best practice. FSD has embraced the threat assessment team concept and has implemented crisis teams at all schools.
Level 1
- Intent not apparent
- No evidence of motive
- No ability to carry out threat
- Expressions of anger or frustration dissipate quickly
- No evidence of planning
- Threats of fight without specificity of violence
Level 2
- Intent is expressed
- Some evidence of motive
- No ability at this time to carry out threat
- Expressions of anger or frustration linger
- Evidence of some planning
Level 3
- Intent to harm
- Motive exists
- Ability to carry out the threat
- Expression of anger is pervasive
- Threat is reported and/or planning is taking place
- The threat has been repeated over time to multiple people
- The student has accomplices or has attempted to recruit accomplices
3a Response to Level 1
- Communicate status to Director of Schools or designee and SRO
- Notify parents/ guardians of students directly involved.
- Implement discipline (consider 504/IEP regulations)
- May refer to FSD School Counselor
- Continue to monitor behavior
3b Response to Level 2
- Communicate to SRO, Safety Supervisor, and Director of Schools or designee
- Depending on the age of the intended victim, talk with parents about how this information will be shared with them and if they would like any school support in this process
- Notify parents/guardians of all students involved
- Notify intended adult victim
- Implement discipline (consider 504/IEP regulations)
- Immediately enter discipline /incident into Skyward for state mandated reporting
- May refer to FSD School Counselor
- Complete Return to School Safety Plan as needed
- May refer to Academic and Behavioral Support Team (ABST) to establish and monitor interventions
- Consider for special education/504 referral
3c Response to Level 3
- Communicate to SRO, Safety Supervisor, and Director of Schools or designee
- Notify parents/guardians of all students involved
- Depending on the age of the intended victim, talk with parents about how this information will be shared with them and if they would like any school support in this process
- Notify intended adult victim
- Implement discipline (consider 504/IEP regulations)
- Immediately enter discipline/incident into Skyward for state mandated reporting
- May refer to FSD School Counselor
- May refer to FSD School Psychologist
- Refer to FSD Social Worker
- Complete Return to School Safety Plan
- May refer to ABST to establish and monitor interventions
- May refer for clinical safety evaluation (facilitated by FSD Safety Supervisor)
- Consider for special education/504 referral
Visitor Protocols
All visitors enter the school's secure vestibule and pick up the video phone that rings into the front office, notifying the office staff that a visitor is in the vestibule. The front office then screens them visually and verbally, asking for names and the reason for the visit. They are then buzzed into the front office where they are required to present a valid, government-issued, photo ID. This is required for entry into all school buildings or offices during normal hours of operation and all visitors may be subject to a background check.
Why do all schools have a vestibule at the entrance? These vestibules allow another layer of protection and prevent visitors from freely walking directly into any of the buildings in our district. Secure vestibules are also highly recommended by the Department of Homeland Security as an important added layer of security.
When will I be asked to wear a visitor badge?
Visitors will be asked to wear a visitor badge on school days during school hours.
What if I don’t have a Tennessee driver’s license?
Visitors can present state ID cards and driver’s licenses from all 50 states. A passport with a photo and birth date is also accepted.
What information will be shared?
None. No information from IDs will be shared.
What if I forgot my driver’s license?
You may be asked to wait in the office for your child to come to you or asked to volunteer or visit at another time when you have your identification.
If you have additional questions please contact Celby Glass, FSD Safety Supervisor, at 615-472-3117.
Code of Conduct for Families, Volunteers, and Visitors
This code of conduct is required by Tennessee law, and aligns with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee Board of Education, and school board policies.
Purpose
The participation of families (parents, guardians and caregivers), volunteers and visitors in the learning process and education community is directly correlated to the level of academic success a student will attain. Understanding this vital connection, this code prioritizes strategies to build bridges in an effort to welcome persons onto our campus.
This code of conduct applies to all families, volunteers and visitors who interact with schools and offices in Franklin Special. It also applies to those who are present at school, in person or virtually, and at school-sponsored activities, meetings, and/or functions during and after regular school hours.
The overarching expectation is that we work constructively together to address issues related to concerns, programs and services before they become a source of conflict. Any interaction between school personnel and families, volunteers and visitors should start with assuming good intentions in others. Other positive and effective interactions should include:
- Respecting each other’s time and responsibilities;
- Listening carefully with a respectful exchange of opinions and suggestions; and
- Approaching disagreements in a manner that treats others as integral parts of the decision making and encourages mutual problem solving.
Guidelines
In order to maintain an orderly, respectful and secure educational environment for students and staff, it is essential that families and visitors are aware of their responsibilities and understand that adherence to these guidelines is essential for each school and office. Penalties for lack of adherence to this Code of Conduct shall be enforceable by the board of education and by local law enforcement officers if necessary.
Conduct on School Property
Schools are a place of work and learning. All persons on school property or attending a school function shall conduct themselves in a respectful and orderly manner. The principal or their designee is responsible for all persons in the building and on the grounds. Anyone who is not a regular staff member or student of the school is considered a “visitor.” All visitors are required to abide by the rules for public conduct on school property established by procedures, state law, and school board policy.
All visitors shall provide a copy of a government-issued identification, which includes the visitor’s name, date of birth and photo, to the school office to be recorded. Persons who do not provide required identification will not be permitted on premises.
Visitors may be escorted and/or accompanied by a school employee throughout their visit. Visitors are required to wear a badge or name tag indicating that they are a visitor throughout their visit.
Prohibited Conduct
No person shall:
1. Act in a threatening manner (i.e., gross disrespect, threatening, using loud or offensive or profane language, swearing, or displaying temper, or causing disruption to professional or academic climate) toward any staff member or student;
2. Approach someone else’s child in order to discuss an issue or chastise him or her. (Such an approach to a child may be seen as an assault on that child and may have legal consequences);
3. Injure any other person or threaten to do so;
4. Damage or destroy school property, or threaten to damage or destroy school property or the property of a teacher, administrator, other district employee or any other person lawfully on school property;
5. Disrupt classes, school programs or other school activities;
6. Send abusive, harassing, or threatening emails or text/voicemail/phone messages or other inappropriate written communication;
7. Record or videotape any interactions within the school building where there is an expectation of privacy (classroom instruction, conversations with teachers, students, staff), unless all participants to the conversation have given their permission for the recording or videotaping;
8. Disrupt school transportation or confront transportation staff on the bus, the road, in neighborhoods, or on school system grounds, or enter upon a school bus without express permission to do so;
9. Distribute or wear materials on school grounds or at school functions that are suggestive and inappropriate, obscene, advocate illegal action, promote alcohol or illegal substances, appear libelous, obstruct the rights of others, or are disruptive to the school program;
10. Intimidate, harass or discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or age;
11. Enter any portion of the school premises without authorization or remain in any building or facility after it is normally closed;
12. Obstruct the free movement of any person in any place to which this code applies;
13. Violate the traffic laws, parking regulations or other restrictions of vehicles while on school property;
14. Possess, consume, sell, distribute or exchange alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tobacco products, vaping products, controlled substances, or be under the influence on school property or at school functions;
15. Possess or use firearms or dangerous weapons in or on school property or at any school function, except in the case of law enforcement officers;
16. Loiter on school property or at school functions;
17. Gamble on school property or at school functions;
18. Refuse to comply with any reasonable order of identifiable school district officials performing their duties; or
19. Violate any federal or state statute, local ordinance, or board policy while on school property or while at a school function.
Consequences
Principals or their designees and school security have the authority to enforce the Code of Conduct for families, volunteers and visitors, as well as all district policies and procedures, and are authorized to determine the appropriate offense level outlined below.
Depending upon the severity of the incident, parents/guardians or visitors may be removed from, or otherwise banned from campus and participation in school-sponsored activities. In situations involving lesser infractions or where remediation is viable, a verbal warning will be provided. Should a parent/guardian or visitor fail to heed the direction issued in the verbal warning, a ban or other restrictions designed to deter the conduct will follow. No restriction, however, will prevent the parent/guardian from working collaboratively with the school to meet the child’s educational needs, nor will a parent/guardian be excluded from meetings regarding their child’s education and performance.
Level 1 Offense
Level 1 offenses are those that do not jeopardize the safety or welfare of students or staff. Failure to act accordingly will result in the escalation to a Level 2 offense and consequence.
Consequences:
- First infraction: verbal warning
- Second infraction: administrator/parent meeting
- Third infraction: formal mediation
Level 2 Offense
A parent/guardian or visitor in violation of any portion of this code that jeopardizes the academic environment and/or safety and welfare of students and staff is subject to being banned from school property for a specified period of time and will be subject to the district’s actualization of its right to pursue a civil or criminal legal action. Repeated Level 1 offenses may also qualify as a Level 2 offense.
Consequences:
Issuance of a formal “No Trespass Letter” from premises – this formal notice can be instituted for a quarter, semester or year at the discretion of the school system.
When an individual commits a Level 1 offense (second infraction), the principal will notify the director of schools, or a designated representative (including the school resource officer) who will schedule a meeting. A period of not less than 30 days will be provided for this meeting to take place. Failure to participate in the meeting will result in escalation to a Level 2 offense.
At the termination of a formal ban and “No Trespass Letter” from school premises, a meeting with the principal or his/her designee is required.
Right to Appeal
Level 1 offenses are not appealable.
If an individual would like to appeal a Level 2 offense, a written request with supporting evidence must be submitted to the director of schools (or a designee) within five (5) calendar days of the imposition of the consequence. Upon receipt of a request to appeal, the designee has five (5) calendar days to issue a written finding to either uphold, amend or abolish the ban as written. If the designee upholds the decision of the principal, a second level of appeal is available through the director of schools or the school board.
Office of School Safety
Celby Glass, Supervisor
1000 Excellence Way
Franklin, TN 37064
615-472-3117