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  • Please know that our highest concern in Marion County School District is your child’s safety. As parents, you play an essential role in keeping students safe during an emergency. We are pleased to let you know we have a phone messaging system that will call you in the event of such emergencies, so there is no need to call the school or district office. With our phone messaging system, it’s imperative that you make sure your child’s school has your up-to-date contact information so we can reach you.

  • EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

    If you learn of a school or an area emergency, please do not rush to school to pick up your child. Additional traffic will block any needed emergency vehicles. Your presence in the school building could delay the evacuation process. Each school’s emergency response plan includes procedures for protecting children as the first priority, followed by a system of reuniting them with you in a safe, orderly, and timely manner.  As parents, you play an essential role in keeping students safe during an emergency. Please know that our highest concern is your child’s safety. The district and each school have emergency response plans covering natural disasters and other emergencies. If you wish to discuss specific concerns or have any questions regarding our safety plans, call your school principal or the district’s emergency services manager at 843.423.1811.

    What you should know:

    Lockdown

    This is a response to an immediate threat to the campus such as an intruder in the building. Classrooms and all entrances are locked. Students remain in their classrooms with their teacher and no one is permitted to enter or leave the building until the situation is resolved. Staff and law enforcement (school resource officer) will be in the halls.

    A lockdown is usually for a short duration. The lockdown will be canceled as soon as it is determined the threat no longer exists.

    Hold

    This is in response to a general threat to the area or campus. All entrances are locked and no one is permitted to leave the building. Normal instructional activities continue. Staff and law enforcement (school resource officer) will be in the halls. Anyone entering the building will be required to state the reason they need to come in (pick up a student for a doctor’s appointment) and show a photo ID.

    A hold may continue for an extended period of time and will be canceled when the threat no longer exists.

    With both procedures, as parents, you should know that your student is in a secure environment with increased staff and law enforcement presence. We would ask that you not come to the school unless it is an absolute emergency. You are placing yourself and others in danger by entering the threat area.