Groveport Madison Schools

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Safety & Security

Groveport Madison Schools takes the safety of our students and staff very seriously. As part of the Student Services Department, they coordinate the District's safety and risk management program and provide guidance to schools and departments in maintaining a safe physical environment, adhering to safety regulations and maintaining required records. The Department also serves as District liaison with local, state, & federal agencies.

Ohio Senate Bill 29: Student Data Privacy

Recently, Ohio state legislators passed Senate Bill 29, which focuses on student data privacy. The new law, which will take effect at the end of October, requires Ohio school districts to take certain actions and protections around our students' data when working with outside vendors, specifically:

Acknowledge school district ownership of student data
Contain provisions prohibiting unnecessary access to student data
Restrict the use of student data
Return or destruction of student data upon conclusion of contract
Restrictions on how a technology provider may sell, share, or disseminate educational records

The new law also requires school districts to notify parents and guardians when monitoring student devices owned by the school district. Below is our notice of general monitoring:

General Monitoring of School-Issued Devices

Please be aware that the District, directly or through a technology provider, is electing to generally monitor all school-issued devices (as this term is defined by R.C. 3319.325). Monitoring will include these features: location tracking and student interactions with school-issued devices (e.g., web-browsing activity).

The District generally monitors these features for the noncommercial education purpose of instruction, technical support, and/or exam proctoring. Additionally, these features are typically monitored as a necessary precaution for preventing and/or responding to threats to life or safety.

Safer Schools Ohio Tip Line

The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Public Safety sponsors the SaferOH tip line that will accept both calls and texts 24 hours a day. This tip line allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety—whether that involves a threatened mass incident or harm to a single student.

Every tip can remain anonymous. School safety analysts may ask for additional information, but the caller can remain secret or leave his or her contact information for later follow-up. Calls or texts to 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) are answered by analysts in the Ohio Homeland Security’s Threat Assessment and Prevention (TAP) Unit. When action is needed, the TAP Unit immediately forwards information to local school officials, local law enforcement agencies and others, if necessary.

*NEW AS OF 10.10.2023* Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently announced several enhancements to the state's free Safer Ohio School Tip Line to make it easier for Ohioan's to report concerns. In addition to the number listed above, Ohioans can now report school safety through a new smartphone app and online web form. The Safer Ohio School Tip Line smartphone app is available on both iOS and Android.

Emergency Response Level Definitions

Over the years, many terms have been used to describe the status of our schools during an emergency. It’s essential that our students, staff, parents, and community understand the current terminology we are using to respond to various situations. Please note the following:

STAY PUT: (Movement is restricted within the building due to an unexpected event)

Classrooms are locked and secured, and access to the school is restricted. Students remain inside their classrooms, and all students must be accounted for.

Example: A "Stay Put" status may be implemented in the event of a disturbance, an individual requiring medical attention, or an urgent maintenance issue needing to be addressed. There could also be a Stay Put order in place if a threat is being investigated, such as if the school and first responders were evaluating a social media threat.

SECURED PERIMETER: (Movement is restricted outside the building due to a potential safety concern)

Exterior doors are locked, and access to the school is restricted. Regular school day activities will continue inside the building, but activities outside the building are not permitted. Until the school is advised by Law Enforcement, no one may leave or enter the building while a Secured Perimeter is in effect.

Example: A "Secure Perimeter" order may be implemented in the event of a suspicious person in the neighborhood or by order of law enforcement officials.

LOCKDOWN: (There is a risk of imminent life-threatening danger)

Classrooms are locked and secured, and access to the school is restricted. Classrooms must take appropriate actions based on the situation (including rapid evacuation, barricade, etc.). We only use the term, Lockdown, when there is a direct threat to the people inside the building.

SHELTER IN PLACE: (Movement is restricted within the building)

Move all students and staff inside the building to a secured area.

Example: A "Shelter in Place" order may be implemented during a severe weather incident, chemical spill, or crash scene near the school.