Safety and Security
Manheim Township School District is committed to creating a learning environment that protects the safety and security of our students and staff, and considers their safety to be of the utmost importance. Whether it is prevention, preparedness, response, or recovery, MTSD Safety and Security team strives to manage every phase of emergency readiness competently and effectively. Through this framework, we can continue to build a safe and secure learning environment. Manheim Township School District follows Act 44 of 2018 (Senate Bill 1142).
The following information details several of the district-wide safety and security measures in place to help safeguard our school community:
- All-Hazards Plan: Our All-Hazards Plan contains guidelines and procedures that are applicable to all MTSD staff and facilities. This plan is reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
- District-wide Safety & Security Committee: This committee meets on a monthly basis and is comprised on internal stakeholders, as well as our community partners, to review current structures, practices, and procedures. The committee also reviews the safety and security plan.
- Incident Command Teams: Each building has an incident command team that help to minimize the negative impact of an incident with staff, students, families and facilities, while helping to restore services as soon as possible.
- Safety and Security Coordinator: Working in coordination with the superintendent and other school leaders, the Safety and Security Coordinator provides leadership and guidance in efforts focused on promoting the safety in our schools.
- Emergency Management Coordination: MTSD maintains close working relationships with local law enforcement and emergency management services.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): MTSD maintains agreements with our community organizations to access shelter locations should there be a need to evacuate a school beyond our district facilities. The district also has an MOU with the local police department that provides a School Resource Officer and establishes protocol for notifying police for certain offenses and/or emergency situations on school grounds.
- School Resource Officer (SRO): The MTSD has an agreement (MOU) with the Manheim Township Police Department to have two assigned police officers during the school year. The main goal of the SRO is to provide a highly visible presence that promotes positive relationships between youth and law enforcement.
- Mandatory Training: All MTSD staff is annually trained through the ALICE Program. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) provides preparation and a plan for organizations on how to proactively handle a threat of an aggressive intruder.
- Safe2Say Something: Act 44 establishes the Safe2Say Something program to ensure anonymous reporting concerning unsafe, potential harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in a school entity or the threat of such activities at a school entity. Safe2Say is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney Generals. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late.
In order to create a safe environment conducive to learning, it is important parents and students adhere to the safety and security policies. Questions pertaining to a specific school building should be addressed with the building leadership.
Contact
Bette Oberle, Safety & Security Coordinator
oberlebe@mtwp.net
(717) 560-3092