School & Student Safety

St. Cloud Area School District emergency preparedness is managed at district and site levels. Response teams review, revise and practice threat assessment and crisis response procedures annually.

• District Crisis Center (DCC)
• Emergency Preparation Advisory Committee (EPAC)
• District Trauma Recovery Team
• School Medical Response Team (MRT)
• School Crisis Response Team

Most schools in St. Cloud Area School District have secure entrances with visitor access solely granted through one door at the main office or check-in desk. Schools currently without secured entrances are scheduled to be completed in the near future. Schools with secure entrances track visitors through an electronic system that requires photo identification and background check. Once entry is approved, a temporary name badge is issued. When leaving the building, visitors are asked to return the badge to the main office and checkout.

Surveillance cameras are installed throughout district schools and buildings to ensure safety and can be accessed live in the case of an emergency.

As required by state law, all schools in Minnesota are required to have five active threat drills, five fire drills and one tornado drill each year. In addition, St. Cloud Area School District has implemented table-top active threat drills in all schools, sometimes in conjunction with a lockdown drill. The purpose of the drills is to help students better understand their environments and practice their responses in an emergency situation. The drills also help staff evaluate emergency procedures and report any issues.

In the event of an emergency, parents will be informed as soon as possible via email, phone, text, voicemail, website and/or social media. Please note: if a police presence is involved, communications will be coordinated with the appropriate authority before being released. Parents/guardians are asked to refrain from calling the school or district office for information as those telephone lines may be required for emergency communications. Similarly, parents/guardians are asked not to drive to the school to pick up their children unless so directed.