About Springfield Township Safe Schools
The School District of Springfield Township is committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for our students and staff members. To that end, the district partners with outside agenices, including law enforcement, fire services, and county safe schools management, to ensure that we are engaging in best practices for school safety.
Throughout the school year, staff members and students participate in monthly drills and receive training and information on a variety of safe schools scenarios. Administrators work cooperatively to standardize procedures across the district, to update practices as necessary, and to provide constructive feedback on real world situations.
The district currently employes a Supervisor of Campus Security, Mr. Stephen Chinta, who is responsible for overseeing the safe school systems to ensure that our school environment is aligned to local, state, and federal best practices. This includes not only secure entrances at each building, visible security guards at the secondary level and training in emergency response, but also mental health staff and resources from the community to support our students, staff and families.
School and Office Safety Procedures
Following are some of the ways in which we provide a safe and secure environment for students and staff in our schools and offices. No system or set of procedures is perfect, but we strive to meet and exceed the standards set by Safe Schools within the PA Department of Education, and the guidance of the Springfield Township Police Department.
We do not release specific details of our safety procedures, as this could jeopardize the security of our students and staff. All procedures follow the guidance of local law enforcement, Safe Schools, and the recommendations of the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety.
- Second Step curriculum in K-8 to support community standards for interaction
- Annual training in Safe2Say anonymous referral system for students in 6-12
- Curriculum and instruction that serves to support all students in order to establish a strong sense of belonging, affirmation and support
- Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Threat Assessment models to provide intervention
- Mental health support, including on-site counselors, social workers, psychologists, and contracted therapists
- Family referrals and coordination with local therapeutic services through Aldersgate, Child and Family Focus and the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
- Monthly drills, including administrative lockdown, evacuation, shelter in place, run/hide/fight (active shooter), and emergency response
- Annual/ongoing review of classroom and building safety procedures at each school
- Administrative training in the use of RUVNA, student accountability software
- Annual training in Safe2Say anonymous referral system for students in 6-12
- Safe Schools training modules
- Ongoing professional learning in equitable practices, threat assessment, and MTSS
- Background checks and identification clearances on file for all staff
- Access to mental health support through the Employee Assistance Program
- Monthly drills, including administrative lockdown, evacuation, shelter in place, run/hide/fight (active shooter), and emergency response
- Emergency response cards in every classroom and office for ready referral
- District wide safety plan, maintained by the Supervisor of Campus Safety
- District wide coordination of mental health support by the Director of Support Services
- Supervisor of Campus Safety conducts daily assessment and monitoring of all schools
- District wide surveillance cameras in all schools, buses and campuses
- District wide cybersecurity measures to identify external and internal threats
- Use of RUVNA, student accountability software
- Monitoring of a countywide radio for situational awareness
- Single secure entry point following morning arrival
- ID access required for any staff member; all others required to report to single secure entry point
- Visitor management system utilized for all school visitors
- Security staff at STHS (3.5) and STMS (1.5), evening coverage for events (1)
- Regular visits by the Springfield Township Police Department
- Memorandum of Understanding with the STPD to affirm coordination and communication on all safety matters
- Coordination with the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety
- Participation in all local and regional training by the Supervisor of Campus Safety
Threat Assessment
Under Act 55 of the Pennsylvania School Code, all districts are required to train and operate a threat assessment team. The School District of Springfield Township exceeds this mandate and has a trained and accessible threat assessment team in each school building. This team, comprised of psychologists, counselors, social workers, and administrators, is activated to conduct research-based threat assessments when students threaten an act of violence. Teams follow district procedures to interview potential threats with the goal of offering supportive services to those students in need. Supportive services can include referrals for mental health interventions, additional check-ins with school staff, and intervention with law enforcement. It is important to note that while the threat assessment protocol is not a disciplinary measure, disciplinary consequences may still apply based on code of conduct infractions.
Safe2Say Hotline
Have a tip? Contact the Safe2Say Hotline. Students and parents can anonymously report threats and concerns through call, text or through the app.
- Call 1-844-SAF2SAY
- Download the app by searching SAFE2SAYPA
- Report online at SAFE2SAYPA.org