Safety & Security

When Will Parents/Guardians be notified

• Families will be notified and kept updated during an emergency situation by email, text, automated call, social media, and on the district website.  This includes lockdowns, natural disasters, evacuations, etc.

 

• Families may not be notified during non-emergency situations or incidents that do not have a building-wide impact.  This may include situations where no immediate threat is perceived to the general student and staff population.  For example, this could include some medical emergencies or classroom disruptions.  Family notifications in these situations are determined on a case-by-case basis for those students affected.

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Parents/Guardians

Terms You Might Hear

The following are terms you might hear during an emergency situation at your child's school and what they mean:

HOLD

This is used when hallways / common spaces need to be kept clear of occupants, such as a medical issue or spill in the hallway

SECURE 

This is used to bring everyone indoors due to an outside concern near the school.  No one is allowed in or out of the building.

LOCKDOWN

When there is an identified threat at a building.  Hallways are cleared, and all students and staff are to lock classroom doors, stay quiet, and stay out of sight behind locked doors.  No one is allowed in or out of the building.  Students are to remain in lockdown until the building is deemed safe or evacuation is possible.  

EVACUATE

If students are evacuated from the building, they will be taken to a safe location until the building is confirmed safe for return or a release/pick up is coordinated for families. Location details for an evacuation will not be released publicly for safety reasons and will be based on the situation.  Families will be notified directly via email, text, and/or automated call.

SHELTER 

In Ohio, students are trained to shelter for a tornado per the State of Ohio tornado drill process

 

What to do 

If you receive a robocall, listen to the entire message. Avoid calling the school if at all possible. Keeping phone lines open for emergency use is extremely important.

In the event of an emergency, please do not come to your child’s school building unless instructed to do so. If you are required to pick up your child, you will receive specific instructions on where and when to do so. Keeping the area around the school clear for emergency personnel is very important. We know it is hard to wait, and we appreciate your patience in these situations.

Please do not try to call your child’s cell phone during a lockdown situation. Phones ringing or buzzing while in lockdown can be dangerous. 

Keep an eye on this webpage for updates, and also watch your phone and email for direct notifications from the District. Rely on official communications from the District or public safety officials for information.

Ensure your child's emergency contact information is accurate and current with the District.

Communication

In the event of an emergency, this webpage will become information central and will be updated regularly.

During an active scene and investigation, all communication is made in conjunction with the Medina Police Department. Information is communicated as it is available.

Please be aware that the District's communication during an emergency is guided by federal privacy laws under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as well as law enforcement guidance. This means that while we strive to provide timely and accurate information, certain details about students and their involvement in the situation may be limited or withheld to protect their privacy. We are committed to sharing as much information as possible while adhering to these legal requirements.

We will continue to communicate with families and the community throughout the emergency event. While updates will be posted to social media and sent via email, text, and robocall directly to families, the best source of information will be this web page, which will have the most up-to-date information we can share at any given time.

We will communicate with families Districtwide, no matter what building the emergency is impacting. Families may have children at multiple buildings; some of our buildings may be impacted due to proximity, and others may be impacted due to busing or dismissal delays. It is important for all families to know what is happening within the District.

School Resource Officers/Safety Staff

Mike Wesner

Head of Security

Al Roland

Former Medina City Police Officer

Nick MacLarren

Medina City Police Officer

 Jim Tighe

Medina City Police Officer

Chris Brink

Medina City Police Officer

Dave Pinkas

Montville Township Police Officer

 

 

 

Collaborative School Safety and Emergency Management

The Medina City School District maintains a robust, multi-agency partnership dedicated to ensuring a secure environment for all students and staff. This collaboration involves the Medina City Police Department, Montville Township Police Department, Medina Township Police Department, and the Medina Fire Department. By integrating the expertise of these first responders into daily operations and long-term planning, the District actively prevents safety issues and ensures a rapid, coordinated response to any emergencies.

Student handbooks, which can be found on each building's webpage, provide the most up-to-date information on maintaining a safe and secure learning environment.