School safety is defined as school-related activities, tactics and personnel that are deployed to ensure students are safe from violence, bullying, harassment and/or influence of substance use (adapted from the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environment). 

The Wauwatosa School District uses the I Love You Guys Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which utilizes clear, common language while allowing for flexibility in protocol. 

The premise is simple - there are five specific actions that can be performed during an incident by students, staff, teachers and first responders. The SRP is based on the following actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.  

Keeping our students and staff members safe is a top priority for our district. We have protocols and procedures in place to prevent emergency situations, and to help us respond in the event an emergency arises.

Every stakeholder plays an important role in the District's safety and security preparedness.

We encourage families to conduct mental and emotional check-ins with their children. It is important to allow children to learn and process information in an age-appropriate manner, while also preventing any media messages - or measures intended to prevent and prepare students - from feeding fears. Please contact your school's principal or counselor with questions or for access to resources.

The most critical element in school safety and security is awareness. All members of a school community, including students, staff, administrators, and families, are encouraged to let us know of anything that does not look, sound, or feel right, including situations of bullying, harassment, mental health, and safety and security concerns. Receiving tips and information allows us to investigate and take steps to prevent situations from occurring.

There are different ways for students, families, and community members to report concerns, including:

• Tell an adult (teacher, staff member, administrator).

• Speak Up, Speak Out [see below]

• Contact the local police department for an immediate response if something happens outside of the school day.

We take safety and security seriously. Families, please take a moment to remind your child that making a threat is never a joke. The consequences can have a lifelong impact. School actions or discipline are based upon board policy and federal/state regulations by which schools must abide.

Speak Up, Speak Out Wisconsin (SUSO) is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn to with your concerns regarding school safety.  The number one facet of the Resource Center is the threat reporting system.   The SUSO threat reporting system is available 24/7 and is free to all.  Students, parents, school staff and community members can submit a school safety concern, by downloading the SUSO app (Android and IOS), visiting Speak Up Website or by calling 1-800-MY-SUSO-1.

• Talking to Kids About Guns / Spanish (BeSMART)

• BeSMART Secure Firearm Storage

• Project ChildSafe: Talking with Kids About Gun Safety