School Safety and Preparedness
School safety is the foundation of a successful learning environment. The School District of Superior is committed to maintaining rigorous practices, procedures, and protocols to ensure our schools remain safe havens for all students and staff.
We approach school safety through three primary pillars:
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Effective Planning: Strategic coordination for a wide range of potential emergency situations.
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Training & Readiness: Regular drills and thorough training for staff and students to ensure a calm, prepared response.
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Facility Security: Maintaining secure buildings through modern technology, infrastructure improvements, and controlled access.
Our district maintains a close partnership with local law enforcement and emergency responders. We continuously review our systems in collaboration with the Wisconsin Office of School Safety (OSS) and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to ensure our protocols align with the most current state and federal safety standards.
We have implemented several layers of security to protect our school community:
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School Climate & Mental Health: A safe school starts with a supportive culture. We utilize Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to promote a respectful environment. Furthermore, our staff is trained in threat assessment, adolescent mental health, and trauma-informed care (Adverse Childhood Experiences) to support students before a crisis occurs.
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Emergency Response Plans and Training: Every school maintains a site-specific crisis response plan developed in active collaboration with local law enforcement and first responders. In accordance with Wis. Stat. ยง 118.07(4), these plans are reviewed, updated, and approved annually by the School Board. To ensure district-wide readiness, all employees receive mandatory annual training on these specific protocols, ensuring staff are prepared to implement life-saving measures and coordinate effectively during any critical incident.
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Secure Access Control: All school entrances are locked and monitored via high-definition video surveillance. Visitors must utilize our dual-entry system, which requires visual screening by staff and check-in at the main office to receive identification badges before entering the building.
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Strategic Safety Investments: Utilizing School Safety Grants from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the district has made significant enhancements to our physical security infrastructure, communication systems, and emergency alert capabilities to better protect our students and staff.
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Threat Assessment Training: There are staff in every school trained in Wisconsin School Threat Assessment Protocol created by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The School Threat Assessment Protocol is to be applied as an early intervention tool to assist students exhibiting concerning behaviors.
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Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO) Reporting System: The Superior School District partners with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to utilize the Speak Up, Speak Out comprehensive reporting system. This platform allows students, parents, and community members to submit confidential safety concerns 24/7. Whether it is a threat to the school, bullying, or a classmate in crisis, SUSO ensures that information reaches school administrators and law enforcement immediately.
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"See Something, Say Something": We foster a culture of vigilance. Students and staff are encouraged to report any concerning behavior or safety threats immediately to school administration or through our anonymous reporting channels.
If you have questions regarding our safety protocols, please contact your building principal. We appreciate your partnership in keeping Superior Schools a safe place to learn and grow.
