Safety & Security

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is a clear, step-by-step safety plan used by schools and public buildings to handle emergencies. Created by The "I Love U Guys" Foundation, it replaces confusing code words (like "Code Red") with five standard actions so students, teachers, and first responders instantly know what to do.  SRP is recognized nationally as the standard safety best practices for schools. 

The five SRP safety terms you’ll hear in our schools are: 

• Hold
• Secure 
• Lockdown 
• Evacuate 
• Shelter 

We use SRP at GIPS to help ensure all of our staff and students know how to stay safe during incidents or emergencies.

A “hold” is when a hallway, area, or room needs to be cleared while staff provide support to a situation.  “Hold” means students and educators stay inside their classrooms and keep working (business as usual) without interruption, but hallways are kept clear.  “Hold” is typically used in situations like hallway clean-ups.

“Secure” mode is when everyone stays inside the building and all doors are locked from the outside.  During “secure” mode, learning continues as usual, but things like recess may be put on hold until the “secure” mode is lifted.  Additionally, no one is allowed to enter or exit the building during a “secure” mode.  It’s important to note this is not a lockdown, as learning continues as usual.  “Secure” is typically used in situations when law enforcement is handling police activity in a neighborhood near one of our schools, or a wild animal is loose in the area.

“Lockdown” is when the classroom doors are locked, lights are turned off, and everyone stays silent and strategically out of sight in their classrooms.  “Lockdown” is typically used when there is an active threat or emergency inside the building. 

Here is what a lockdown drill looks like at our schools. 

“Evacuate” is when a building needs to be cleared.  Students and staff are prompted to follow their trained safety instructions, leave belongings behind, and move in an orderly line to their designated safe spot.  “Evacuate” is typically used in situations like fire drills, or internal building hazards.

“Shelter is when students and staff in the building need to follow a “drop, cover, and hold” protocol.  “Shelter” is typically used in situations like weather-related emergencies (tornado), or environmental hazards.

Safe2Help is a free, confidential safety tool designed to give GIPS students a safe space to share concerns and get help before a problem turns into a crisis. 

Whether a student is worried about a friend struggling with mental health, experiencing bullying, or noticing a threat to school safety, Safe2Help ensures that no young person has to carry that burden alone. Trained, caring professionals listen to every message, protecting student privacy while connecting the right support services directly to the situation to keep everyone in our school community safe and cared for.

How Safe2Help is available to all GIPS students:
 

• Available 24/7/365: Students can reach out anytime—day, night, or during weekends and school breaks—whenever they need assistance.
• Free Mobile App: Anyone can download the Safe2Help NE app on an Apple or Android device to submit a tip or talk directly with a crisis counselor.
• Confidential Website: Reports and messages can be sent safely and securely online at Safe2HelpNE.org.
• Toll-Free Hotline: Students can call or text 833-980-SAFE (7233) to speak with someone who is ready to listen and help right away. 

Safe2Help is an easy-to-use, trusted platform for providing student safety support.  The platform is endorsed by the Nebraska Department of Education and is used by a number of school districts across the state. 

visit the Safe2Help website

Our School Resource Officer (SRO) program pairs local Grand Island Police Department officers directly with our middle and GISH to make sure every student feels protected and supported. Rather than just being there for security, these officers focus on building kind, trusting relationships with students through daily conversations and positive guidance. SROs also provide support at our Elementary schools as needed.  They work alongside Principals, teachers, and staff to build connections with students, and help ensure our schools continue to be safe. 

• Barr Middle School - Officer Hank McFarland 
• Walnut Middle School - Officer Tim Champion
• Westridge Middle School - Officer Bret Renz 
• Grand Island Senior High - Officers Jeremy Gildersleeve and David Caldwell

Drop-off and pick-up times can be busy and stressful, but working together as a team helps protect every child arriving at and leaving school. 

When our families and staff look out for one another by following traffic rules and staying alert, we create a safe environment for our students. By staying patient and looking out for every child as if they were our own, we make sure every school day starts and ends with safety and care.

Friendly reminder that all electric Scooters and E-Bikes must be parked outside the school.  Keeping all modes of transportation with batteries stored outside helps us eliminate potential fire risks.  This applies to our GIPS staff as well. This practice will ensure all staff and students have a safe school environment. 

Additionally, the Grand Island Police Department (GIPD) has provided updates, tips and expectations for families to stay informed on the do’s and don’t’s of personal transportation devices. 

Per GIPD, early enforcement will be done through warnings and education. Following a period of warnings and education, we will move to citations or warnings at the discretion of our officers for persons 14 years of age or older. Citations will be used particularly for subsequent offenders.  For persons under the age of 14, parents may be cited for subsequent offenses under the State Statute for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. If problem or repeat offenders exist, the law does allow for impoundment of personal transportation devices. 

The following key takeaways will help keep everyone safe.

• Only cross roads at designated crosswalks, and only after checking for traffic.  This is the law.
• Only ride or roadways with posted speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less.  You may cross other roadways as described above, but cannot ride on them.  This is the law.
• Wear a helmet and protective clothing.  Head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury or death in accidents involving personal transportation devices.  This is a safety recommendation.

More information may be found at the GIPD website.

We proudly provide a number of extracurricular activities where our students can shine and pursue their passions. An essential part of this shared commitment is a joint effort by our staff, families, and spectators to follow basic safety protocols. By choosing to be respectful and responsible spectators in the stands and audience, we’re able to keep the focus on celebrating and supporting our students' hard work.

GIPS conducts safety drills regularly throughout the school year—including monthly fire drills as required by Nebraska law, along with routine practice for lockdowns, severe weather, and clear-hallway holds. We know that practicing these situations can sometimes make students feel anxious, so our staff approaches every drill with care, calm reassurance, and gentle guidance. These frequent practice runs help make safe choices second nature for our students and teachers, ensuring everyone feels prepared and protected without feeling afraid.

All GIPS facilities utilize secure, single-point entry systems where visitors must present identification and be buzzed in by front office staff. Additionally, secondary buildings utilize student ID badges for visible identification, maintain monitored security cameras, and partner directly with Grand Island Police Department School Resource Officers (SROs) who are stationed in the schools.

GIPS uses a direct emergency notification system to send phone calls, text messages, and emails to parents during an active incident. The district also posts official, verified updates on its main social media channels and website to keep families continuously informed without spreading rumors.

During a Secure protocol (usually triggered by outside concerns, like nearby police activity), exterior doors are locked, but learning continues as normal inside. Families will likely receive an email and text message from the school after a “Secure” mode is lifted. 

During a Lockdown (triggered by a threat inside the building), interior doors are locked, lights are turned off, and students stay silent and out of sight. For safety reasons, parents are asked not to come directly to the school during a lockdown, as building doors will be sealed to allow first responders to handle the situation. Families will receive a phone call, email, and text message update when a school goes into lockdown, and will continue to receive updates throughout the situation until all is resolved.

If students must be moved off-site due to an emergency, GIPS uses the Standard Reunification Method (SRM) to safely reconnect parents with their children. Parents will receive a message detailing the exact location of the reunification site, and adults picking up a student must present a valid photo ID and be listed as an approved emergency contact.

If a student notices a concern or is feeling unsafe, they can talk directly to a trusted adult at school such as a teacher, counselor, social worker, or principal. 

Students may also use Safe2Help, a confidential reporting tool available 24/7 through its free mobile app, website, or toll-free hotline. 

GIPS remains committed to providing support to students to ensure caring professionals step in to keep our students and staff safe.

The best place to start is at your child’s school.  If you have a question about the school's safety and security measures, you will want to reach out to your School Principal directly.  Contact information for our schools may be found on the “Our Schools” page here.  

If you have questions about districtwide safety protocols, you’re welcome to email our GIPS Safety & Security Team at communications@gips.org or call 308.585.5900.