Pottsgrove Students Go Back to School with More Security Measures in Place

Dear Pottsgrove Parents & Guardians,

As the summer draws to a close and school begins anew, I want to inform you that in light of events in Newtown, Connecticut and very recently in Atlanta, Georgia, Pottsgrove has an updated school safety plan in place. This plan, part of a larger All Hazards Plan, is the product of a coordinated effort among district personnel, law enforcement, other first responders, and experts in the area of school safety and security. The plan provides the framework for each school’s individual building safety plan in compliance with Pennsylvania school code.The Board of School Directors approved the All Hazards Plan at their August 13th meeting.

In addition, the District has taken concrete steps to better secure our schools, improve communication, and train our faculty and staff including, but not limited to, the following:

• Implementation of an electronic check-in and check out system for all visitors during school hours.
• New camera system including exterior cameras in all elementary schools and the Pottsgrove Middle School.
• New digital radio system for better internal communication during a crisis.
• Additional channels open for communication with parents and guardians during a crisis. We now use our website (www.pgsd.org) and social media (www.facebook.com/PottsgroveSchoolDistrict)to provide quick updates as they become available and provide a more comprehensive report to parents and guardians through email and telephone, as detailed directions need to be communicated or the crisis resolves and facts are confirmed. Parents can now subscribe to updates to our PGSD headlines section of our homepage, “like us” on Facebook, and update emergency contact information anytime through the PowerSchool parent portal.
• Better coordination and ongoing discussion between the school district, county emergency management, and local law enforcement.
• Most importantly, mandatory A.L.I.C.E. training for all teachers and staff. A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform,  Counter, and Evacuate. This new comprehensive intruder response protocol adopted by Pottsgrove School District is far more proactive than the traditional lockdown, as it promotes internal communication, permits proactive strategies for slowing an intruder down, and provides for the rapid evacuation of classrooms when windows of opportunities exist.

 As we begin a new school year, I want to assure you that Pottsgrove School District takes student safety very, very seriously. While there is no perfect defense for some of the horrific school tragedies we’ve seen recently, we are employing the best practices available and continuously assessing our protocols to assure student safety while maintaining a vibrant learning environment.

Should you have any questions or concerns about safety and security at your child’s school, do not hesitate to contact the school principal. 

Sincerely, 

Shellie A. Feola

Superintendent of Schools