School Safety

Depending on the emergency, a school administrator, police or other emergency personnel can direct a school to enter lockdown.

Soft Lockdown vs. Hard Lockdown

A hard lockdown is typically a serious security situation and response to a threat inside the school. During a hard lockdown, teaching and learning stops. Students and staff either seek shelter or evacuate, depending on the situation. Classroom doors are closed and locked. Building entry is only permitted for emergency personnel.

A soft lockdown is in response to a nearby threat outside of the school. A soft lockdown could be directed in response to nearby police activity, for example. During a soft lockdown, doors are locked, and no one is allowed to enter or exit the building. However, teaching and learning can continue, and students and staff can continue to move within the school. The threat does not typically involve the school, and the lockdown is a safety precaution. 

What to expect during a lockdown

• Visitors – including parents/guardians or staff – must stay away from the school campus. Visitors are not allowed to enter the school, and students/staff are unable to leave until the lockdown is lifted and the emergency is resolved.
• Parents/guardians will be notified as quickly as possible when a lockdown is initiated and again when it is lifted, in addition to any timely, necessary updates.
• Safety is the No. 1 priority in an emergency. On-site school staff will do everything possible to ensure students and staff remain safe. The RPS 205 communications and security teams will share information with parents/guardians as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.

A school administrator, police or other emergency personnel can direct a school to stay-in-place and stop movement in hallways, especially during a passing period or during arrival or dismissal.

This order differs from an internal or external threat. This could happen to facilitate a medical emergency, for example, and keep hallways or other congregate settings clear from crowds. There is no danger to students or staff.

Any threats to students, staff or school community are taken seriously, investigated, and thoroughly vetted. Rockford Public Schools partners with Rockford Police and local law enforcement to ensure students and staff remain safe. If there is any credibility to a threat and a change is required to the regular school schedule, parents/guardians will be notified.

Here are the ways you’ll be notified of a weather-related school closure:  

• automated phone call and/or text message to parents/guardians (make sure your school’s main office staff has your most recent phone number on file);  
• email blast to all RPS 205 staff;  
• email blast to local media to help us share the news;  
• social media posts on the RPS 205 Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages;  
• post on rps205.com under 205 VIBE™ The News
• RPS 205 App

Timing

The decision to close schools during extreme weather (typically snow, ice or extreme cold) is made as early as possible, often very early in the morning. The decision is based on the best weather information available and how inclement weather will affect students, staff and parents during travel times.  
 

Temperatures

There’s no official temperature that closes schools. The Superintendent and his leadership team consider several factors, including road conditions. Typically a wind chill of negative 25 will start the conversation about possibly closing schools.  
 

Who decides

Canceling school because of inclement weather is the Superintendent’s decision to make, and he communicates with his leadership team to make the best decision for our students. Please remember that the final decision is up to the parent/guardian. If you decide to keep your child or children home because of the weather, please contact your child’s main office staff to inform them of your decision.