Perimeter lockdowns let students learn with ‘enhanced level’ of safety
Emergency drills regularly practised with an eye to improving efficiency
Perimeter lockdowns are one of the most common emergency procedures used in Saskatoon schools, and emergency officials say a unified communication front helps school divisions and stakeholders reduce confusion in a time of crisis.
Information provided by the Saskatoon Public School Division and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools indicates perimeter lockdowns — where an emergency or incident develops near a school — are more common than emergencies inside school facilities.
Since 2012-13, the earliest data available, the public division has enacted emergency procedures 19 times; 12 of them were perimeter lockdowns, which are almost always put in place with the guidance of an outside agency like police.
Bomb threats accounted for three instances in which emergency procedures were enacted. School lockdowns, where students and staff are asked to lock and stay away from classroom doors and windows and remain in place until emergency responders say it’s safe, took place three times. One emergency case involved a fire.
Public division superintendent Brent Hills said while perimeter lockdowns provide an “enhanced level of safety” to students and staff, it’s business as usual inside.
“The best part of perimeter lockdowns is that the learning and the teaching doesn’t stop in the classroom,” he said.
Hills said he feels the number of perimeter lockdowns is related to the fact that school divisions and society in general are becoming more aware of the dangers that exist during an emergency.
“Would we like to see them not happen? Absolutely,” he said. “It would be wonderful if we didn’t get those calls, but we appreciate getting those calls if it’s ever real.”
Saskatoon’s school divisions regularly hold practice lockdown drills and review procedures with parents and students to ensure that if there is a need to enact an emergency protocol, it can be done quickly and effectively.
The Catholic division does not centrally track how many times perimeters lockdowns have been used. Emergency procedures have been enacted at schools in the division — once due to a bomb threat and another due to a potential threat in the community, and evacuations have happened at various schools due to facility issues like a gas leak, according to the division.
School divisions are part of a partnership with the city police, fire department, and the Emergency Measures Organization.
Catholic division superintendent Scott Gay said consistent communication is critical during a crisis.
“That’s absolutely vital that we have that kind of relationship,” he said. “We use the same language and we have very similar practices in how we respond. I think that really helps our fire and police services to not be guessing — ‘Oh, we’re going into a different school so do we have to do this a different way?’ It should be very consistent. That allows them to do the work they need to do as efficiently as possible.”
Debbie Davies, the City of Saskatoon’s acting emergency measures co-ordinator, helps co-ordinate responses. She said communication in real time can help keep people safe and secure, providing a sense of calm at a time of chaos.
“It’s important that they know what’s going on and what procedures to follow … what procedures are appropriate in that situation, as well as when the situation is over,” she said.
Communication between the EMO, police and school divisions can also help keep children safe, Davies noted, because they can work together to determine if dismissal or pickup times need to change or if students should be allowed out for recess while informing parents through the city’s
It’s important that they know what’s going on and what procedures to follow.
mass-alert system, NotifyNow.
When asked if the current system is adequate for a growing city like Saskatoon, Davies said EMO and its partners are constantly reviewing its practices to ensure procedures remain up to date and relevant.
“We exercise on it, we update our plans and we’re in constant communication with our stakeholders to make sure we’re meeting the needs and to make sure we’re effectively communicating,” she said.