Safety and Security
Reporting safety Concerns
If you are a student or a parent/legal guardian with a safety concern, report it to a school administrator as soon as possible.
Kennewick School District offers students, families and community members the ability to submit safety concerns by phone, email and text message, as well as through a form on the district website. Reports of harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyber-bullying may also be submitted online.
Keeping Our Schools Safe: Important Protocols for the New School Year
At Kennewick School District, student safety is our top priority. As we start a new school year, we want to make sure you are familiar with our safety protocols. Please note that some of our protocols have changed for the 2024-25 school year. Here's how we are working to keep our schools safe and how you can help.
Emergency Communication
To keep you informed about safety and security threats, we use the ParentSquare communication platform to send out two types of notifications: Emergency Alerts (previously called "Critical Lockdowns") and Safety Updates.
#1 - Emergency Alerts notify families and staff immediately during a school lockdown or significant emergency on campus that poses an immediate threat to health or safety. Information is shared as soon as it is accurate and verified.
#2 - Safety Updates provide ongoing information about potential safety threats, ongoing situations, or to clarify rumors. The purpose of these updates are to keep everyone informed with factual information.
NEW: Secure and Teach Status
Sometimes, schools will implement a Secure and Teach (previously called "Non-Critical Lockdowns") status as a precaution. This could be due to nearby police activity or a situation inside the school that requires hallways to be cleared. In these instances, exterior doors may be locked, and students stay in their classrooms while continuing to learn.
When schools are in a Secure and Teach status, no notification is sent out, since there is no threat or danger to students. Notification will only be sent if there are impacts to the school schedule.
Emergency Safety Drills
Each school conducts monthly practice of Emergency Safety Drills for a variety of potential safety situations as required by law. These drills include: Shelter-in-Place, Lockdown, Evacuation, and Earthquake. In addition, emergency evacuation drills are conducted three times per year on school buses.
When an Emergency Safety Drill occurs, no notification is sent out, since there is no threat or danger to students.
Programs & Prevention
Kennewick School District is committed to providing a safe learning environment for students. Our goal that every student is safe, known, and valued focuses on both physical and social-emotional safety. When students are physically and emotionally safe, they are better able to learn and achieve at high levels. The district's Safety Team, facilitated by the superintendent, meets regularly to coordinate safety efforts across multiple departments. As a school district, our safety and security efforts include:
Physical Safety
- Facility Safety Measures
- SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS & SECURITY STAFF
- School Safety Plan, Drills and Staff Training
- Protecting Students from Discrimination, Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying
Facility Safety Measures
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS & SECURITY STAFF
School Safety Plan, Drills and Staff Training
Protecting Students from Discrimination, Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying
Social-Emotional Safety
- Supporting Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Substance Abuse Awareness, Prevention & Intervention
- Behavioral Health & Suicide Prevention
- Community-Based Partnerships Providing Wraparound Services for Students & Families