School Safety

The Tuscaloosa City School district is dedicated to providing a safe environment to those entrusted to our care. While the U.S. schools remain relatively safe, any amount of violence is unacceptable. To ensure the safety of all of our students, staff and parents the Tuscaloosa City Schools have taken several safety measures over the years. These safety measures include but are not limited to physical safety, safety policies and practices. TCS has also partnered with city and state agencies to ensure the safety of our students, staff and parents.

Secure perimeter status may be called when there a threat outside the school that is not currently affecting the campus. During this time, teachers and students remain in the classrooms and continue with instructional activities. However, during a call for a secure perimeter no outside activities will be allowed, and there is limited movement in halls and unsupervised areas.

Lockdown is an emergency protocol used to protect everyone inside TCS facilities. All interior and outside doors of the building are locked. If evacuation is not a safe option, no one will exit or enter the building. Everyone will stay in a secure location within the building until further notice from law enforcement.

Gaggle is a technology utility that runs in the background of all student TCS Google accounts. This service reveals potentially harmful content in email, documents, shared files, images, photos and more which allows school leaders to be proactive in addressing student and school safety concerns.

This means a potential may exist for an unusual situation and all parties should have heightened awareness to react as needed.

School administrators are responsible for conducting monthly safety drills in compliance with the state and local TCS policies and procedures.  Each school conducts searches by using a mixed method approach, including searches of backpacks, hallways, classrooms, etc..  Searches are conducted by school personnel using handheld wands and metal detectors.

IDs and ID badges allow school administrators to know who is who, and add extra security to the buildings. Schools want to make sure everyone on campus has a legitimate purpose. Showing  ID or ID badge is another management tool for campus access control.

Metal Detector Searches will be executed regularly during the school year. It is the responsibility of the school administrator to assure that the procedure is followed and reported in the appropriate manner. These searches include but are not limited to the following:

• Walk through at the point of entry
  
  • Conducted at the start of the school day
  • Only at the point of entry
  • Only at secondary schools
  • All students and staff will walk through the metal detector
• Wing metal detector search
  • Conducted during school hours
  • School administrator lock down a wing of the school
  • Search using both walk through detector and handheld wand
• Wing/hall/classroom random search
  
  • Conducted mainly at elementary schools
  • Secondary schools may choose to use
  • Administrators and SRO/security choose a wing and search personal belongs, backpacks using hand-held wands.

Learning supports provide resources to help meet the non-instructional needs of students.  Additionally, schoolwide supports are provided and implemented to address barriers to teaching and learning, as well as re-engage disconnected students while serving all students.  The resources, strategies, and practices that support physical, social, emotional and intellectual development and well-being to enable all students to have an equal opportunity for success.