Safety and security is a top priority at KES, so we wan to share some of the ways we keep students and staff safe throughout the school year. Beginning the first full week of school, we begin utilizing security drills to prepare students and staff in case of an emergency. This way they know what to expect and what procedures to follow in case of an emergency.
Some of the drills we practice are fire, security drills (lockdown drills for all 3 levels) , tornado, playground evacuation, earthquake, bomb threat, and more. This gives us a chance to make sure everything is working as planned and adjust if necessary. The school resource officer (SRO), Josh Schoenhals, assists during most drills. He is also on campus each day checking doors to make sure they are secured and performing other security checks.
You might have noticed our new signage that lets the community know that KPS staff can be legally armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students and staff.
Most entries at KES are keyless entries that require an access code to enter. When visitors come to the school, they must be buzzed in after being shown on camera, and then buzzed in a second door if entry is granted. Parents may be asked to show an ID to pickup students if there is any question about their identity or intentions. Visitors are not permitted to enter at any other door unless approved by administration for special circumstances.
We are confident in our ability to keep staff and students safe and secure and will continue to assess our facilities and evaluate our protocols in order to make adjustments and improvements as needed.
Click here to read Ketchum Schools Lockdown Guidelines.