Welcome to Farmington Public Schools! Maintaining a safe and welcoming school environment is important for students, staff, and the community. Farmington Public Schools (FPS) implements protocols and practices that strive to maintain a secure school environment. While we do not release all of our safety protocols for public viewing, several of the most important ones are presented to help our community understand how truly safe FPS is for our students and staff.
School Safety Update to the Board of Education - September 12, 2023
Safety & Security at FPS
- Physical Safety Measures at our Schools
- Classroom Visits & Volunteering
- Crisis Response Protocols
- School Safety Drills
- ALICE Protocols
Physical Safety Measures at our Schools
The safety of our students and staff starts with thoughtful, well-maintained learning environments. The following physical building safety practices highlight the proactive steps we take across our schools to create secure, prepared, and welcoming spaces for everyone.
Safety & Security Best Practices
Secured Entries - At our schools, visitors must check in at the office, being buzzed into a single entry point during the school day.
Visitor Check and Badges - Front office staff request that visitors provide identification and have a specific reason for their visit. Prior to admission to school, visitors must sign in and put on a visitor sticker.
Safety Drills - Each school year, our staff and students practice the following types of drills: Shelter in Place (severe weather), Fire/Evacuation, Lock Down and Active Threat.
Maps and Directions - In each of our classrooms, directions for sheltering in place (severe weather) and evacuation (fire) are displayed graphically near the doorways.
Video Camera Monitoring - Each of our middle and high schools are equipped with video surveillance systems. These systems cover both the inside and outside public spaces. FPS does not incorporate monitoring inside of our classrooms, restrooms, offices or other private spaces.
911 Location Systems - In the event that a 911 call is made from a location within a building/school, emergency responders are provided the specific location of the call source even if the caller does not provide this information.
Office "Panic" Buttons - In our schools, there are panic buttons in the office that can be activated and trigger a "silent" alarm which dispatches law enforcement to the school location.
Staff Badges - All of our staff wear FPS identification badges.
Mass Text and Phone Notifications - FPS utilizes a system to provide both mass text and phone call notification to our families and staff.
Locked Exterior Doors - Once students have arrived for the day, all exterior doors are locked and remain locked throughout the school day.
Locked Interior Doors - Interior doors remain locked at all times, and if propped open, the propping device must be able to be removed with a single motion, such as the kicking out of a door stop.
Security Staffing at High Schools - At each of our high schools, there are hall monitors assigned. Their job is to help school administration maintain a safe environment by monitoring student movement and behavior, patrolling parking lots/hallways, monitoring video camera systems and other safety related tasks.
FOB Access System - Over the last several years, FPS has reduced the number of key locks on our exterior doors, replacing them with electronic locks. FOBs (the electronic keys) can be activated and deactivated remotely through our management system, reducing the concern about lost keys. Additionally, the FOB system can be accessed to determine who and when our buildings have been accessed.
School Visitor Entry Procedure
Visitors to our schools can expect the following school entry procedures during the school day:
- Exterior doors will be locked during the school day and visitors must access a single entry, which is typically at the main office.
- At the main office, visitors will have to be “buzzed” into school. Visitors should be prepared to provide identification and a specific reason for their visit.
- Visitors who request access to the school, beyond the office, will need to sign in and wear a school-provided identification badge.
- In the unlikely event that a visitor presents themselves as disorderly or potentially dangerous, staff are required to enact safety protocols and immediately contact law enforcement.
School Liaison Officers
Through a partnership with our local law enforcement agencies, three police officers are assigned to be within FPS on a daily basis. They are stationed at Farmington High School, East Middle School, and North Farmington High School). In turn, each officer is assigned to liaison with other schools in the district. These officers support school safety and, when necessary, directly address student/community issues. Our liaison officers work hard to integrate themselves into the communities of their schools so that their presence feels helpful and supportive to both students and staff.
Law Enforcement Access to Schools
Farmington Public Schools encourages our local law enforcement officers to visit our schools. Often, the public may see a vehicle sitting outside of one of our schools or in a parking lot. This is not necessarily due to a problem at school. Rather, local law enforcement often uses our locations as stopping points to conduct their daily duties. Additionally, all law enforcement vehicles have FOB access to our schools, in the event that they ever need quick access. Finally, law enforcement dispatch, which services emergency responders from both Farmington and Farmington Hills, has access to our video surveillance system in the event of a school emergency.
School Safety & Security Audits
"What Gets Measured, Gets Done."While having school safety protocols and practices in place is important, monitoring these protocols and practices ensures that they are truly in place. Farmington Public Schools utilizes a system of security audits where each school/building is visited multiple times per year by law enforcement and central office administration. During these visits, a checklist of practices is reviewed to ensure that these are in use. Upon completion of each audit, written feedback is presented to school/building administration for review and, if necessary, to provide modifications.
Classroom Visits & Volunteering
In order to maintain a safe environment, minimize disruption for students within the learning environment, and to support quality teaching and learning in Farmington Public Schools, we utilize the following expectations:
- Classroom visits are opportunities for you to experience the teaching and learning environment of your child. Visits must be pre-arranged with the principal, who will determine the appropriate day, time, and duration of the visit after consultation with the teacher. Accordingly, a requested visit will typically require at least 48 hours advance notice. Normally, a visit will not extend beyond a period of one hour. Also, it is of the utmost importance that you do not share information about individual students that you may observe in the classroom. Questions or concerns regarding the visit or time spent volunteering must be directed to the principal.
- Regular volunteering in a classroom is allowed but must be pre-arranged with the principal and classroom teachers to determine the schedule and scope of activities that will be supported.
- The FPS Volunteer Application Form must be completed and be approved by the District prior to the next pre-planned visit/volunteering in the classroom.
- During visits and volunteering in the classroom, there should be no direct verbal communication with the classroom teacher that concerns your child. If your volunteering involves working with groups of students, please report any concerns to the teachers or school staff in charge at that time. Questions or concerns regarding the visit or time spent volunteering must be directed to the principal.
- The principal will be copied on all written communication should you want to direct questions or concerns in writing to the teacher.
- When visiting or volunteering in the classroom, interactions between parents and staff members must be respectful and appropriate.
- When visiting or volunteering in the classroom, any concerns should be addressed privately at a later time with the principal.
- If the need arises to use a cell phone, the call must be taken or made outside of the classroom.
Note: In an effort to maintain safety, any breach of this protocol by coming onto school property and entering the classroom without advanced notice and approval will be considered trespassing and treated as such.
Crisis Response Protocols
A safe learning environment for all students is the top priority of Farmington Public Schools. Assessment, planning, development of protocols, training and evaluation are key components in ensuring that a student’s education will not be disrupted by any safety concerns and that staff are properly trained to respond to any emergency situation.
Emergency and Crisis Response
When a traumatic event or crisis occurs within Farmington Public Schools, the District provides planned, specific intervention. The District does its utmost to be prepared to meet the needs of affected individuals during the time of crisis. Every staff person has the potential to perform a task or take a role in the management of crisis situations. The District has protocols to serve as the guide to the response roles of staff. Training and evaluation are an important part of the response process.
Procedures and Protocols
The District has thorough procedures in place for school emergencies, including individual student medical emergencies.
The District has a three-pronged crisis response team protocol.
- School Teams - Each school has a crisis response team
- District Teams - The District Crisis Team coordinates resources and responses to support school-level teams as necessary
- Emergency Responders - The District works closely with emergency responders
Emergency Response Resources
The District has a number of emergency response resources and materials in each school.
- Emergency Response Flip Charts
Every classroom and office has an emergency response guide, designed as an easy-to-use flip chart. These are posted on the wall of the room for quick reference. This flip chart gives step-by-step instructions for a wide variety of emergencies including medical, bomb threats, fire, weapons, unauthorized visitors, and severe weather. Parents are welcome to view the flip chart in the classrooms. - AEDs
Every school in the district has at least one AED unit. Staff are trained in the proper use of the units. They are placed in strategic location(s) at the school. - “To Go” Bags
Each elementary classroom has a bag that contains basic first aid equipment. Each office has a more comprehensive bag of first aid materials. They are placed in rooms for easy access during an emergency situation.
911
911 calls are made immediately upon the assessment of the emergency situation and it is determined that EMS units are required. Under all FPS procedures, the 911 call is the first action to be taken (if appropriate) after the initial assessment.
CPR and Emergency Response
School staff have basic knowledge of emergency response and P.E. teachers are trained in CPR. Parents are welcome to review the crisis response manual available at each school. The District takes emergency management and response very seriously. We know that we are responsible for students when they are at our schools. Training and drills are all part of the ongoing process for staff to be prepared for an emergency.
Local Law Enforcement Coordination
The District has a very close relationship with local and regional emergency management providers, including EMS, Fire, and Police. We jointly plan and participate in emergency response. Local law enforcement are members of the staff at our three comprehensive high schools and act as a liaison between the police and the school. They are part of the District’s crisis response teams and are always available to offer procedural advice and assistance. Law enforcement personnel also participate in the various drills held throughout the district.
Farmington Public Schools takes emergency readiness very seriously. The protocols that have been implemented are meant to prepare staff to assess the incident and respond to an emergency situation in a timely manner with the support of local emergency response personnel.
School Safety Drills
School Safety Legislation - Public Act 12
The State of Michigan has enacted new legislation regarding how public schools report safety drills to the public. Schools are now required to run:
- Fire Drills - A minimum of 5 fire drills are required each school year. Three (3) of the drills need to be held before December 1 and two (2) during the remainder of the school year.
- Tornado/Severe Weather Drills - A minimum of two (2) tornado safety drills are required for each school year with one (1) conducted during March.
- Lockdown Drills - A minimum of three (3) drills in which occupants are restricted to the interior of the building and the building is secure. One (1) of these drills needs to be conducted prior to December 1 and one (1) conducted after January 1. At least one (1) drill needs to be scheduled during lunch, recess or at another time when a significant number of the students are gathered not in a classroom.
Reporting of District Drills - For each school year, this link displays a historical view of drills completed at each school.
ALICE Protocols
ALICE website - The website for ALICE (Alert, Lock Down, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) which is the model our schools utilize to prepare for crisis situations.
ALICE Drill Discussion Points - This is an introduction of ALICE protocol for secondary students.
Talking to Your Child About Safety - A primer from John Hopkins Children's Hospital regarding talking to children about safety
Michigan Secure Storage Law
Firearm Safety & Storage Requirements
MDHHS Resources
The new secure storage law, Public Act 17 of 2023, requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises. Learn more by reading the recent press release or click on the links below for additional information.
Learn more at Michigan.gov
Contact Us
Allyson Robinson
Director of School Safety & Athletics
allyson.robinson@fpsk12.net
248-489-3352
