When crisis strikes, clear and consistent communication can make all the difference.
That’s why Alpine School District (ASD) fully utilizes the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a nationally recognized, comprehensive approach to school safety developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation.
“SRP puts us all on the same sheet of music,” said Detective Sergeant Lily Southwick, a student resource officer (SRO) assigned to multiple schools in Alpine School District.
This critical protocol involves all personnel, staff, and students across every school. It ensures a unified and consistent response to any potential threat near or on school campuses.
The foundational goal is to provide clear, common language and actions, allowing staff to maintain the safest possible conditions for students during any emergency. The system is built on five simple actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.
For example, when a recent threat led to the decision to evacuate students from American Fork High School, district personnel used the language prescribed by SRP to communicate with parents and law enforcement.
The shared vocabulary across the district reduces confusion during high-stress incidents. This means that even if a principal is out of office or a substitute teacher is covering a class, everyone knows the exact procedure to follow immediately upon hearing one of the five commands.
Southwick emphasized that the SRP is a crucial tool because it helps people develop muscle memory. She added, “It will be chaotic, but in the back of their minds, they have that peace of mind that they've been trained and they know what to do.”
Consistent Vocabulary and procedures are reinforced through monthly drills in elementary schools and quarterly drills in secondary schools. Parents can find information on when drills will happen on their school’s calendar and will also be notified of drills when they happen.
The SRP's power lies in its standardized, action-based directives, which eliminate dangerous delays and confusion.
“If there's a lockdown, you get on the intercom... and you say these words, 'Lockdown, locks, lights, out of sight,'” said Brett Robertson, assistant principal and safety specialist at American Fork High School. “At that point, the teacher's gonna do what they need to do.”
This prevents critical time being lost as staff develops an understanding of the situation. Robertson emphasized that the standardization benefits all involved, noting, “Every student is getting the same equal protection and safety.”
The five distinct actions are:
Hold. Students clear the halls and remain in their room with doors locked while school operations continue inside.
Secure. There is a threat outside, and everyone must get inside and lock outside doors immediately, allowing instruction to continue without disruption.
Lockdown. “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight,” is announced over the intercom indicating a threat inside the building; students move away from sight, maintain silence, and staff actively secure the doors.
Shelter. Requires staff to state the specific hazard and safety strategy.
Evacuate. Directs movement to a specific, announced location, such as a designated gym or field.
This proactive approach is a cornerstone of the district's responsible governance, ensuring every student is equally protected. Teachers are equipped with binders outlining their specific responsibilities for each action and each classroom has a poster visible to students outlining each of the 5 actions. Robertson explicitly stated this principle, telling parents that “our number one goal is all about safety,” adding, “It's not about convenience.”
A key benefit of the SRP is the guidance it provides to parents, who are considered partners in student safety.
“Know our emergency protocols,” advised Southwick. “Know that when you get that text, what it means, and that your kids and your school administrators, your teachers, everybody at that school has practiced the protocols and knows them.”
The district strongly encourages parents to avoid rushing to the school during an active incident, as this can impede critical first responder access.
Following a crisis, the district utilizes a reunification method to safely return students to guardians at an off-site location. Robertson also highlighted the collective benefit of the shared system, noting, “The amount of growth and an increase in safety, was tremendous in our district from when we adopted the SRP.”
Parents should update their notification information in Skyward to receive alerts. They can also visit the ASD Safety and Security page to learn more about the SRP actions.
The continued implementation and rigorous practice of the SRP is a reflection of ASD’s commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for every student.
“This is a proven system that has been tested, that we believe in,” said Robertson, “We feel that it is a response that's quick, timely, and secure to ensure the safety of every student in Alpine School District.”