Security
In the event of an emergency, please call 911.
Fort Wayne Community Schools is committed to providing a safe learning environment for our students, staff and visitors.
FWCS has comprehensive safety and emergency plans for every building, and all schools regularly conduct various drills, including fire drills, severe weather drills, evacuations drills and intruder drills, to prepare students and staff for an emergency.
We emphasize a collaborative approach to safety and security. Relationships with students and families are our greatest security resource. We all play a role in maintaining a safe environment, and when students feel secure to report what they see and hear, they are more likely to do so.
Non-Emergency Phone Numbers
Fort Wayne Police Department: (260) 427-1222
Allen County Sheriff’s Department: (260) 449-3000
FWCS Security Department: (260) 467-2125
Communicating in a Crisis - What Parents Can Expect
When an emergency happens at a school facility, FWCS will be committed first to student and staff safety. Communicating to parents will also be a high priority, as we understand parents will be anxious for information. Here is how we plan to communicate:
Lockdown
A lockdown is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school. The situation poses a serious threat stemming from circumstances, such as domestic violence, unwanted person or student disruption. In the event of an armed intruder, the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategies should be used.
Communication to parents: As soon as there is information to share and it is safe to do so, parents will receive a text message and/or automated phone call from the school. Depending on the nature of the situation, parents should expect initial information to be limited. As the situation develops, additional information will be shared, including reunification information, if necessary.
Lockout
A lockout is called when there is a threat or hazard outside the school building. When this occurs, all windows and doors are secured, and no further entry is permitted until an all clear is given. Any students and staff outside should be immediately notified to return to the safety of the building.
Communication to parents: In a typical lockout scenario, there is little to no disruption to the school day. Oftentimes, the lockout is only a few minutes long. In those cases, schools may not send a letter home to parents as students were not in danger and the school day was not disrupted. In the event of a lengthy lockout, schools will send a letter home to parents. If the lockout will affect arrival or dismissal time, parents will receive a text message and/or automated phone call with instructions on any changes made to arrival/dismissal procedures.
Threats
When a school is notified of a threat, school staff work with local police agencies to investigate. This includes locating the source of the threat and determining the validity of the threat. Most often, students are quickly identified and the statements are determined to not be a valid threat. The situation is handled as a school discipline and, if necessary, a police matter. All threats reported to FWCS staff will be investigated.
Communication to parents: In these cases, parents will not be notified of the alleged threat, unless it has caused a disruption to the school day. Parents of students directly involved will receive a phone call from the school. If a threat is deemed to be a valid threat or if there is uncertainty about the validity of a threat, parents will be notified by text and/or automated phone call from the school. The notification typically will be sent in the morning, prior to the start of the school day, to allow for maximum time to investigate the threat and provide the most complete information possible.
Rumors
With social media, rumors run rampant. If you see or hear of a "threat" on social media, please contact the school and/or police as soon as possible. Please do not share social media rumors on your person social media accounts, as this only makes the situation worse. FWCS investigates all threats and rumors, regardless of the initial validity. Oftentimes, what is posted on social media is made up, from another part of the country or a misunderstanding of something overheard. These posts have a tendency to spread quickly and often resurface weeks after they initially appeared.
Communication to parents: To minimize the spread of misinformation, FWCS will not repeat rumors. If a rumor is causing a disruption in a school building, parents may be notified of the action taken by FWCS and police.
How can you tell the difference between real and fake posts? Here’s a start.
Thanks to the generous support of the Fort Wayne community, FWCS is adding student advocates, licensed mental health therapists, expanding the Alive Community Outreach Peacemaker program to all five high schools and weapons detection systems.
Enhanced security measures at FWCS schools are designed to create a SAFER learning environment for students. These improvements will allow the students to thrive academically and emotionally in a well-protected setting.
Student Advocates
FWCS now has Student Advocates in each school building. These staff members have one goal: support students.
Student Advocates will work to build relationships with students, assist in monitoring enhanced security initiatives and walk the buildings making sure they are secure.
Having strong relationships with students is the most effective way to make sure students are engaged in school.
Student engagement leads to higher academic achievement, stronger sense of well-being, better attendance and fewer discipline issues.
Alive Community Outreach
Peacemaker Academy
Peacemaker Academy is a nonviolent leadership development program for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors in Fort Wayne Community Schools. The program consists of a three-week summer academy focused on developing leaders who are committed to making peace in their school and community.
“Intentional peacemaking has never been more essential. We are committed to building peace, one student at a time, confident that these efforts will not only transform lives but also our community at large”
Angelo Mante
Alive Executive Director
Weapons Detection System
FWCS is adding Opengate weapons detection systems to all school buildings. To be screened, secondary students and visitors will walk through two freestanding pillars. If the light turns green after passing through, you are clear to go into the school. If the light turns red, there will be a secondary search. Opengate will be used at schools as well as at co-curricular events. The system is used to detect guns, knives, and bomb-making materials.
Elementary Schools:
- The Opengate weapon detectors will be used to screen visitors during the school day. Students will not pass through the system as they enter the building at the beginning of the day.
Middle and High Schools:
- Middle and high school students will pass through the Opengate every time they enter the building. Visitors will also be required to pass through the system before entering a school.
Getting to and from school:
- Always use the BUDDY SYSTEM
- Walk in well lit areas, never take shortcuts
- Stay with a group while waiting at the bus stop
- If someone bothers you, say NO, then GO and TELL a trusted adult
- Never accept a ride from anyone unless your parents say it’s OK, even if you know the person
- If someone follows you on foot, get away as quickly as possible. If they follow you in a car, turn around and go the other way
- Never leave school with someone you don’t know
Your child should know:
- Know their full name, address and phone number (including area code)
- Know how to make long distance telephone calls
- Know how to dial 911
- Never go near a car with a stranger in it
- Never get in a car without your permission
- Never tell someone on the phone that they are home alone
- Always lock the doors at home
- Never open the door to a stranger
- A dangerous person can be a person who pretends to be nice-big, small, old, young, a man, a woman, girl or boy