Safety Protocols at ECS 2024

Amanda Cribbs, EdD
Superintendent

Email: amanda.cribbs@ecspgh.org

Phone: x557

Dear ECS Families,

At ECS, we prioritize safety, and as we all settle into our school year routines, the district is committed to the safety procedures and protocols below.

Layered Safety Strategies

At ECS, we use a multi-layered approach like a filter to identify, resolve, and mitigate threats. This method includes wellbeing, classroom safety and rules, internal building safety, external safety, cyber safety, and safety management. Each component works together to maintain a secure campus and helps keep our students, staff, and visitors safe. Examples include but are not limited to:

Wellbeing

  • Threat Assessment

  • 1 Counselor Per Building

  • 1 Social Worker Per Building

Classroom Safety

  • Door Locks

  • Go Bags and Walkie Talkies

  • Trained Staff

Internal Building

  • Hall Monitors and Contracted Security Officers

  • Trauma Informed Drills

  • I.D. Badging

External Safety

  • Entry Control

  • Internal & External Security Cameras

  • Access Control & Volunteer Clearances

Cyber Safety

  • Data Loss Prevention

  • Threat Detection

  • In School Cyber management

Safety Management

  • Crisis Management Team

  • Standard Response Protocol

  • Emergency Operations Plan

ECS also cultivates a Positive School Wide Culture at each building that focuses on age-appropriate connections. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are in place at each building and strengthen relationships that help students identify trusted adults and develop community.

Anyone in the community is highly encouraged to reach out if there is a health or safety concern. Individually, the district counts on our students alerting trusted adults or submitting a tip to Safe to Say when they become aware of a safety concern on campus. The program is monitored 24/7, all information is shared with building leadership immediately, and staff receive phone calls if any life safety tip is submitted. 

In the event additional security measures are required due to a concern, ECS will disclose specific information as appropriate and in accordance with protocols.

Efficient and Effective Communication

In the event of a perceived safety concern, ECS’s standard practice is to diligently gather facts and alert those who are directly impacted in a timely manner. When a follow-up message is needed, we will communicate as soon as possible and include as much information as we are able to share. We know that some individuals would like additional or more specific details about the incident and/or consequences. We are dedicated to balancing community awareness and your right to information with privacy rights. For serious infractions, ECS institutes the appropriate action that aligns with the district’s discipline policy, located on page 35 of the family handbook. 

Please know that every situation is unique and requires varied approaches. Depending on the situation, ECS will either communicate via email or robo call/text message based on your self-selected preferences in Alma.

Adhering to a Standard Response Protocol

ECS has adopted the “I Love U Guys'' Foundation's Standard Response Protocol which is based on an all-hazards approach. All staff are trained and use the universal terminology that appears on the back of their ECS-issued ID card. Families are encouraged to review the protocol to learn more about the common language that is used in the event of a situation. Please know if ECS calls for one of the listed responses, it will always communicate what it means.  

Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

Every year, ECS reviews its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) to determine evolving factors and make necessary updates. In collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police Department and Homeland Security, the district also completes a risk and vulnerability assessment on a cyclical basis. The district is in the process of working with the Allegheny County Emergency Services to finalize this year’s edits to our emergency operations plan. ECS will post the first public-facing pages of the EOP on the website in the coming weeks.

The information provided in this communication is always available to you on ECS’s Family Portal under the student services section. 

Provide Feedback

Finally, as a part of the district’s ongoing efforts to provide quality safety and security measures, parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s School Climate Survey. By clicking the link below, you can select the Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, and anonymously respond to the state’s questions.

Take the School Climate Survey


Please complete the above survey by Friday, Oct. 11. School climate directly correlates with a building’s security as it not only focuses on the community’s physical, social, and emotional safety but also how those attributes shape a student’s learning and development. 


This survey, in combination with the district’s regularly scheduled risk and vulnerability assessments conducted by the PA State Police Department and Homeland Security using its revised Physical Security Baseline Criteria (2023) and the South Western PA Regional Threat Assessment Hub Partnership, will help determine where ECS invests in safety infrastructure, training, and prevention through the 2024-2025 school year. 


School safety is ever changing and as we navigate each distinctive situation, know that ECS’s top priority is always the safety, security, and the well being of all of its students, staff, and families. While there is no “one size fits all” procedure, ECS has protocols in place to help guide decision-making to foster a happy, healthy learning environment. Thank you for your continued support and as always, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.


Sincerely, 


Amanda Cribbs, EdD

Superintendent

District Communication, SafetyDeana CallipareComment