Holyoke Public Schools is reminding families, staff, students, and community members of the district’s process and protocols for responding to possible and confirmed threats. The district also has established communication protocols to be used in the event of possible safety issues or emergencies.
Key points to keep in mind:
HPS takes every report of possible threats seriously. The district and schools follow established protocols and procedures for documenting, investigating, and responding to each report. These steps vary based on the nature of the reported threat. They are not publicly shared to ensure safety and security for our students, staff, and building visitors, and to protect the integrity of law enforcement investigations.
The district communicates both internally and externally, sharing information only after personnel have verified, to the best of their abilities, the accuracy of that information. This process can take time, but the district and schools must always weigh the immediate safety needs of students and staff first, before communicating outside of the school building.
HPS maintains a strong partnership with Holyoke Police and its school resource officers who maintain a regular presence in Holyoke schools. The district’s school safety and crisis team meets regularly to review, monitor, and refine safety procedures, in coordination with both State and Holyoke Police, and the Holyoke Fire Department.
How does HPS communicate about reported safety threats and emergencies? Learn more here.