School Safety

School Safety is Our Top Priority

We have strong safety plans and protocols in place that align with guidance from the Department of Justice. We partner with law enforcement, including our School Resource Officer (SRO), to to review, practice, and evaluate our safety plans so we can be as prepared as possible for emergency situations.

We know that building strong, trusting relationships and fostering a culture where each and every student feels a sense of belonging is the foundation of safe schools. We invest time and energy into teaching the social emotional skills that students need to contribute to this type of learning community.

We Need Your Help!

Our entire community has a role in school safety. All families are encouraged to learn about our safety protocols, terminology, and our process for communicating during an emergency (see below).

Know - and make sure your student knows - that we take any statements regarding threats very seriously (even when done in a joking manner). This includes immediately reporting information to law enforcement and following our established safety protocols and processes to fully investigate these matters.
Familiarize yourself with our safety protocols and procedures and how we communicate when there is a safety concern (see More to Explore below).
Talk with your students about the importance of reporting any concerns about safety to a trusted adult. You can also confidentially report concerns to the WI Department of Justice Speak Up Speak Out Safety Tip Line.

Thank you for your support and helping to keep our schools safe!

Dawn Goltz

Principal, OSD Safety Coordinator

School: (608) 835-4201

School Resource Officer

Speak Up Speak Out Safety Tip Line

We all have a role in school safety. Students, parents, school staff, and any community members can submit a school safety concern to the Speak Up Speak Out safety tip line, created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS).

Click below to submit a confidential report. You may also make a report using your smartphone by downloading the SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT app from the Apple Store or Google Play or by calling 1-800-MY-SUSO-1 to speak to a live, trained dispatcher.

Text messages will not be received. To place Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) calls, dial 711.

Submit a Tip Speak Up, Speak Out Wisconsin

More to Explore

Safety Protocols & Terminology

The Oregon School District has strong safety protocols in place that align with guidance from the Department of Justice. See below for additional details, including specific terminology. We also have processes for communicating with families during emergencies, and strive to provide honest, consistent, clear, and timely information.

School Safety Protocol Handout - English

School Safety Protocol Handout - Spanish

In addition, the WI Department of Justice School Threat Assessment Protocol is used as an early intervention tool to assist students exhibiting concerning behaviors.

Wisconsin School Threat Assessment Protocol

Communication in an Emergency

During emergency situations, our top priority is securing the safety of students and staff. We do this using the Standard Response Protocol. This protocol offers clear, distinct, common language and is endorsed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety.

Each protocol has specific staff and student actions that are unique to the action (Lockdown, Secure, Evacuate, Shelter and Hold). In the event of an emergency, specific action and appropriate direction will be announced.

Things You Need to Know About Emergencies

Emergency situations can create feelings of stress and anxiety. This can be exacerbated by inaccurate information and rumors. Below are things to know and keep in mind during an incident.

Our #1 priority is student and staff safety.

In the initial stages of an incident, our focus is on prioritizing the safety and security of students and staff and managing the emergency response. It may also include working with law enforcement professionals to understand the situation. Official communication with families will begin as soon as possible. Know that we will share as much accurate information as we can as soon as it is available. Please note, privacy laws limit certain types of information schools can release to families and the public.

Official and accurate information will come directly from OSD as soon as possible.

During an emergency situation, we strive to provide honest, consistent, clear, and timely communication with families. In our digital environment, information travels fast. Because our first priority must be securing the safety of students and staff, you may hear about an incident before official communication is released. While we truly understand the desire for information, we strongly discourage circulating unsubstantiated information on social media, because it can impede our efforts to share accurate information and can also cause unnecessary panic.

In addition, the news media often learn of incidents by listening to police/EMS/fire radio scanners. This may result in inaccurate or incomplete information being reported in the early stages of a safety situation before official communication can be disseminated. The OSD will communicate directly with families before providing statements to the news media. Know that the release of information too quickly can cause additional harm to those involved and/or impede the appropriate emergency response.

You can help by remaining calm and keeping phone lines and school locations clear.

We ask that you don’t immediately call or come to the school so we can keep phone lines open and schools clear for emergency personnel to manage the situation. Know that we will share as much accurate information as we can as soon as it is available.

Make sure your contact information and communication preferences are up to date.

Depending on the nature of and urgency of the incident, you may receive a text and/or email. The official way for us to contact you in an emergency will be through the Infinite Campus Portal. Make sure that your contact information is updated at all times. How to update your contact preferences.

Process for Assessing and Managing Threats

Process for Assessing and Managing Threats

We take any and all statements regarding threats - even if done in a joking manner - very seriously. If we receive information or reports of an individual making threatening statements that could potentially impact school safety, we report it to law enforcement and follow the Wisconsin’s Department of Justice’s protocol regarding Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM).

The BTAM is a formal process that evaluates a student's behavior that could be a threat to school security. The goal of a threat assessment process is to understand the situation and how to mitigate safety concerns. The threat assessment team includes law enforcement, student services staff (school counselors / psychologists), and school administrators. This team works closely with the student and their family to ensure the appropriate supports are in place. During this process, the student involved is not in classes with their peers until it is deemed safe for them to be there. You can find more information about the processes we follow here: WI Department of Justice Overview Documents.

Communication

Any threat being made relating to our schools understandably creates concerns and rumors can easily emerge. In most cases, the public does not have access to the full knowledge regarding the details of these primarily confidential and individual circumstances.

Communication about potential threats is determined based on each unique situation. Our primary concern in any situation is for the support and wellbeing of our students. Please understand that we are not able to discuss any matters related to students or investigations

Know that if we have information that indicates a threat is credible, students and families will be notified promptly through our district communication systems.

School Traffic Safety (including protocols & procedures)

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and that applies when students are arriving at and departing from school. It is up to all of us to follow the safety protocols put in place for each school and to create the safest possible environment in our parking lots.

School Parking Lot Protocols & Traffic Flow

Below are the parking lot drop-off and pick-up safety protocols and traffic flow for each school. Contact your school administrator with questions.

Brooklyn Elementary Traffic Flow Procedures

Forest Edge Elementary Traffic Flow Procedures

Netherwood Knoll Traffic Flow Procedures

Oregon High School Traffic Flow Procedures

Oregon Middle School Traffic Flow Procedures

Prairie View Elementary Traffic Flow Procedures

Rome Corners Intermediate Traffic Flow Procedures

Take the School Traffic Safety Pledge!

Traffic Pledge — Our school parking lots are extremely busy during drop-off and pick-up times. Pledging to follow these basic traffic safety protocols will make drop-off and pick-up time as safe and efficient as possible. Take the pledge and ask others to do the same!

Additional Safety Resources

Bus Safety
Bus safety information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Food Safety
Food safety resources from the US Food and Nutrition Service Office.

Gun Storage Safety
Information about the safe storage of guns from Be SMART.

Internet & Online Safety
Resources, tools, and information compiled by the WI Department of Public Instruction and Department of Justice to empower all stakeholders to make safe, smart and ethical decisions about technology use.

Talking with Kids About Kids Challenging Topics

Parents, guardians, families, and caregivers will have many occasions to support their students and talk with them about a variety of topics and events they experience. Below are resources and organizations that offer tips and guidance for families to support students and navigate conversations on a variety of topics. If, after speaking with your student, you determine a need for additional support we encourage you to reach out to the student services support team at your student's school.

Discussion Resources

Back to School Transition

Abstinence & Sexual Activity

Anxiety & Stress

Assault

Cell Phone & Screen Time

Diversity & Race

Gender Identity

General Teen Discussions

Gun Safety

Loss and Grief

Natural Disasters

Pandemic - COVID-19

Tips from the CDC website for talking with your children about health and COVID-19

Remain calm and reassuring;
Make yourself available to listen and to talk;
Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma;
Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online;
Provide information that is honest and accurate; and
Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.

Additional resources for talking with your children

How to Talk to Your Kids - PBS/Daniel Tiger for young children
Brainpop video - cartoon explanation for children
Comic Explaining COVID-19 - NPR / WI Public Radio
What to Say to Kids When the News is Scary - NPR / WI Public Radio
Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus - New York Times
Talking to Kids About COVID-19 - Child Mind Institute
Guide to Talking with Children About COVID-19 - National Association of School Psychologists

Personal Safety & Making Safe Choices

Social Media & Online Safety

Social media and interacting online is a common part of our world today. While there are benefits to this form of social interaction, there are also risks. We all have a part in helping to teach students to be safe online. As a school district, our goal is to help educate students about the benefits, risks, and digital citizenship. Below are resources for families to learn about helping students keep their online interactions safe, productive, and positive.

Common Sense Media

Internet Crimes Against Children

WI Department of Public Instruction

Internet & Online Safety