Catalina Foothills School District

Safety and Security

Catalina Foothills High School Safety Session

In this video, the Pima County Sheriff's Department joins Catalina Foothills High School for an important discussion on school safety and security, held on October 15, 2024. The session covers essential topics including current safety protocols, collaboration with law enforcement, and strategies to ensure a secure learning environment for students and staff. Watch to learn more about how we are working together to keep our schools safe.

Catalina Foothills School District Emergency Operations

Updated 9/24

Safety Reminders

If you see something threatening, call 911.

See Something, Say Something / Report, Don’t Repost: Report any concerning posts to 911 immediately. Sharing unsafe remarks, even in jest, can lead to significant disruptions and serious consequences.
Social Media Awareness: Remind students to be mindful of their digital footprint. Online posts can have serious long-term effects.
Online Safety: Overprotect your students when they are online. Frequently discuss online safety with them. Make sure your students know they can seek help from trusted adults if needed for anyting that concerns them when online.
Emotional Support: Students are encouraged to communicate any feelings of unease or unsafe observations to school counselors or trusted adults.
Anonymous Tip Line: In order to maintain the safest learning environment, CFSD offers a Safe School Line for students, parents, and community members to anonymously report suspicious activity that is not urgent. Any messages will be retrieved during the district's regular business hours and reported to the appropriate school principal.

Anonymous Tip Line 520-209-8599

What to Do in a School Emergency

Parents can help CFSD efficiently manage emergencies by following these simple steps:

Keep Emergency Contact Information Updated: Ensure your child’s emergency contact details, including phone numbers and emails, are current and on file at their school. This can be done during registration or by contacting the school receptionist anytime throughout the year.
Ensure Medical Information Is Accurate: Make sure your child’s medical information is complete and available. This is critical for school nurses and may be vital to first responders during an emergency.
Wait for Official Communication: CFSD will use ParentSquare to notify parents via text and email during an emergency. Updates and instructions will be provided through these channels. Do not rely on social media for accurate information.
Avoid Calling or Driving to the School: In an emergency, calling the school ties up critical phone lines, and driving to the school may block access for emergency responders. Wait for official instructions from CFSD.
Reunification Process: If students are transported to an alternate location, CFSD will inform you of the new pickup site. Bring a valid photo ID for student pickup, and remind emergency contacts to do the same. Only individuals listed as emergency contacts will be able to pick up students.

Your cooperation with these protocols will help ensure the safety of all students, staff, and faculty during an emergency. Thank you for your attention and support in keeping our schools safe!

Emergency Operations Plans (EOP)

Every CFSD school has a confidential, adaptable Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for varying emergencies.
Staff receive annual training on their roles during emergencies, and regular drills (lockdown, evacuation, shelter-in-place) are conducted.
Many staff are trained in the Run Hide Fight approach for active threats.
Safety protocols are updated after each drill to improve preparedness.
CFSD collaborates with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) to review and enhance emergency response plans.
Staff and families can share safety suggestions with school principals or the superintendent.

In-Depth Safety Review and Upgrades:

A comprehensive safety review was conducted across all nine CFSD campuses in 2022-2023.
$5 million was allocated for safety upgrades, including new office areas, perimeter fencing, video surveillance, and single-point entries.
Some security measures remain confidential for safety reasons, in compliance with Arizona statutes.
CFSD will continue reviewing and implementing effective strategies to enhance school safety.

School Resource Officers (SROs)

CFSD has three highly qualified School Resource Officers (SROs) trained in active assailant response and Stop the Bleed courses.
SROs work closely with CFSD to ensure quick emergency responses but are not CFSD employees.
While SRO’s primary assignment is at each middle school and high school, they are available to assist at the elementary schools when needed.

Increased Counseling Support

CFSD has expanded counseling staff for crisis prevention, intervention, and response.
Emphasis is placed on socio-emotional learning and strong relationships to reduce violence.
CFSD is implementing Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG) training through the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for counselors and administrators.

Communication with Parents and Community

CFSD ensures transparent communication about safety updates while protecting confidential information.
Emergency alerts are sent via ParentSquare through text, email, and phone. Updates are also posted on the district’s emergency hub at cfsd16.org/911.
Rumors and the spread of misinformation impede schools in addressing school threats quickly and accurately. Please don’t share rumors.

In the event of a threat, schools must carefully balance transparency with legal obligations and safety concerns. Here’s a breakdown of what information can and cannot be released:

What We Can Release:

General Nature of the Threat: Schools can inform the community about the fact that a threat was made, without giving specific details. For example, schools might say, "We are aware of a threat made against the school."
Safety Measures Taken: Schools can provide information on the safety measures being implemented, such as lockdowns, evacuations, or increased security presence. For instance, schools might share, "As a precaution, the school has initiated a lockdown while law enforcement investigates the situation."
Collaborations with Law Enforcement: Schools can confirm that they are working with local law enforcement to investigate the threat and ensure student and staff safety.
Emergency Protocols for Families: Schools can provide guidance to families, such as when and where to pick up students if there is an evacuation or when it is safe to return to the school.

What We Cannot Release:

Specific Details of the Threat: Schools cannot provide detailed descriptions of the threat (e.g., exact wording or how the threat was delivered) to prevent public panic and to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
Names or Disciplinary Information About Students Involved: Under federal law (FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), schools cannot release personally identifiable information about students, including whether a specific student made the threat or any disciplinary actions taken against them. This approach ensures that the community remains informed without jeopardizing student privacy or the safety of the ongoing investigation.
Details of Security Protocols: Schools cannot disclose specific elements of their security plans that might compromise their effectiveness. For example, schools cannot share details about specific lockdown procedures or security vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

Board Meetings

Specific school safety plans are not discussed in public board meetings to avoid compromising security.
The state legislature has exempted school safety discussions from open meetings to protect sensitive information.

Student Discipline

Threatening a school is a serious offense and can result in arrest, felony charges, expulsion, and placement in alternative education programs.
Schools are prohibited from releasing disciplinary information about students, as confidentiality is essential to maintaining privacy and security.