School Safety Overview
School Safety
The MCCSC is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for every student and staff member.
How We Keep Schools Safe
Student and staff safety is our top priority. We follow national best practices for keeping schools safe, and we collaborate with local and state law enforcement officials. Our schools and staff participate in regular trainings and drills to be prepared to respond quickly and calmly in an emergency or safety event. While some safety practices are shared below, we do not publish detailed safety protocols in order to protect their effectiveness.
Read below about our safety practices.
Visit our Safety Communications and Family Guidance page to learn how we respond, what students do, and what communications to expect in various situations.
Safety Communications and Family Guidance
Report a Safety Concern:
Call 911: If there is an immediate safety threat, call 911.
StopIt: Report a safety concern anonymously through StopIt, available 24/7:
Report Safety Concern - StopIt
Contact Your School: Contact your school’s front office or administration.
Mental Wellness: Contact your school to connect with a social worker.
safety@mccsc.edu
(812) 330-7700
315 E. North Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
Standard Response Protocol
The MCCSC follows the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a nationally recognized safety framework trusted by school districts nationwide. The SRP provides best practices on how we respond in various situations and a common terminology for clear communication. In safety incidents or emergencies, we follow the five standard SRP actions:
HOLD! In your room or area. Clear the halls.
A Hold is used when hallways need to be clear. Learning continues. The most common causes are medical issues that require space for medical attention, or maintenance issues that require hallways to be clear.
Secure! Get inside. Lock outside doors.
Secure is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. All students and outdoor activities are brought inside, and exterior doors are locked. Learning continues inside with minimal disruption.
Lockdown! Locks, lights, out of sight.
Lockdown is used when there is a direct threat inside or very near the school building. Classroom doors are locked, lights are turned off, and students move out of sight of any corridor windows. Students remain quiet. Parents/guardians should not come to the school or call the school at this time.
Evacuate! (A location may be specified)
Evacuate is used when students and staff need to move to a different location due to a hazard in or near the school — such as a fire, gas leak, or chemical spill. Staff account for all students during an evacuation.
Shelter! Hazard and safety strategy.
Shelter is used when students and staff need to take protective action for an environmental hazard such as a tornado, severe thunderstorm, earthquake, or hazardous material release. Students and staff move to designated safe areas.
Building Security
All exterior and interior doors are locked during the school day. Exterior doors are equipped with electronic access devices on all entry points. All MCCSC employees are required to wear visible ID badges and to stop and redirect anyone who is not compliant to the front office.
Certified Safety Training
Each school has a certified Safety Specialist trained through the Indiana School Safety Specialist Academy. Safety Specialists complete a two-day basic training and additional coursework in national and state best practices for school safety, security, intervention and prevention, and emergency preparedness.
Safety Planning and Drills
At the start of every school year, MCCSC School Safety Teams update and review Emergency Preparedness Plans for each building. These plans are created in collaboration with local law enforcement, shared with the Monroe County School Safety Commission, and practiced regularly. Every school conducts at least one fire drill per month, two tornado drills per year, and lockdown and emergency response scenarios throughout the school year.
Safety and Security Audits
Each summer, MCCSC School Resource Officers conduct internal safety and security audits of every school building using the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) framework. These audits include a thorough review of corporation-wide, building perimeter, and classroom/interior security layers.
Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships
MCCSC maintains continuous communication with local law enforcement through a shared radio system with our School Resource and Safety Officers. MCCSC collaborates with the Monroe County School Safety Commission and is supported by a robust camera monitoring system across all buildings. Each school also has a School Safety Committee of 5–15 members that meets regularly to review safety procedures and address building-level concerns.
Heart Safe Schools
Through the Project Adam Heart Safe Schools program, every MCCSC school has a trained Cardiac Team prepared to respond to cardiac events.
Safety Equipment
- All school buildings have AED machines that are regularly checked.
- AED machine cabinets also house emergency first aid kits, Stop the Bleed kits, and NARCAN®.
Our Safety Team
A state-certified School Safety Specialist is placed at each school. MCCSC’s safety team also includes 4 School Resource Officers, 1 School-Community Safety Liaison, and 12 Security Guards. Together, this team works alongside building administrators, staff, and local law enforcement to maintain a safe school environment.
Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy
House Enrolled Act 1492 guides all safety policies and practices in public school in Indiana. In addition to the requirements from HEA 1492, MCCSC has also created an Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy that supports safe and welcoming school communities.