Friday, October 6, 2023
Dear Worcester Public Schools Families,
The physical and mental safety of our students, staff, and families must always be our top priority. Over the past several months, the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) has taken an in-depth look at the safety of our schools. While I am confident that all of our schools are safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments, we must be prepared for the unexpected.
As you may know, Guidepost Solutions recently completed a full-scale audit of safety in WPS. The results are being reviewed and will be released publicly at a Worcester School Committee meeting in November. The report will guide future improvements, particularly with facility issues or any procedural changes that may be necessary.
In the meantime, this fall, WPS began to implement revised Standard Response Protocols from the I Love You Guys Foundation. This school safety framework uses color-coded, easy-to-understand terminology for emergency scenarios:
Hold:
Stay in your classroom and keep the hallways clear, but instruction can continue.
Secure:
Exterior doors to the school are locked, and outdoor activities are halted, but classroom instruction can continue.
Lockdown:
Students and staff are ordered to lock their classroom or office doors and to stay out of sight.
Evacuate:
People are moved from one location to a different location either inside or outside the building.
Shelter:
There is a significant threat. Students/staff are ordered to lock doors, hide, and barricade rooms if necessary.
As part of the updated protocols, all WPS schools are required to conduct age-appropriate “hold” drills, “secure” drills, and “lockdown” drills twice per year. For our youngest students, lockdown drills are as simple as learning how to do “rabbit yoga poses” or playing “hide ‘n peek” as part of the I Love You Guys curriculum.
Some schools have already conducted Standard Response Protocol drills, and more will do so in the coming weeks and months. If you have questions about the timing of these drills or what is involved, please contact your school principal.
In addition, WPS has taken the following steps to enhance safety in our schools:
The district created a new Crisis Communication and Response Manual for schools and departments for 2023-24. The manual outlines the Standard Response Protocol along with crisis protocols and communications templates to assist school leaders in an emergency.
WPS continues to maintain a positive relationship with the Worcester Police Department. WPD’s School Liaison Officers are regularly working with our schools. Our staff communicate closely with the SLO’s on any actual or potential situations that could compromise school safety.
The WPS Administrative Director of Positive Youth Development works with schools to implement bullying prevention, restorative practices, and programs that incentivize students for practicing positive behavior. The Director regularly consults with principals to assist with discipline issues and strategies to steer students in the right direction. The Director works directly with the School Liaison Officers from the Worcester Police Department.
The hiring this year of Climate and Culture Assistants and Deans at every high school to promote a positive school culture and climate, which in turn leads to greater safety. The roles support a positive school culture through interactions with students and staff and to ensure a climate of inclusion and belonging, and another way to proactively identify potential safety issues.
The Worcester Public Schools continues to provide safe and supportive environments for all of our scholars and staff, but safety is not something we can ever take for granted. I look forward to building a greater districtwide understanding of concrete safety measures with clear protocols, procedures, and a common language to ensure a systematic and organized response to any situation. I appreciate the continuous support of our scholars, staff, families, and community partners in these efforts.
Sincerely,
Rachel H. Monárrez, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Worcester Public Schools