Crisis Plan

Northshore School District continues to take proactive measures to protect the safety of all our students and staff members. District representatives work closely with both King and Snohomish County local emergency planning committees and emergency management teams, the groups that plan our community's responses to potential threats. District plans are made in concert with all other local emergency preparedness plans.

The school district and all schools have safety and security plans. The plans are designed with the help of school emergency preparedness representatives, as well as local law enforcement, emergency management, and public health officials. Plans are regularly reviewed and updated. These plans include procedures to respond to critical incidents, such as fire or earthquakes, and school system personnel practice these drills regularly.

The Northshore School District works in close collaboration with local, state, and federal health, safety, and emergency personnel to develop and maintain plans for coping with a variety of emergency response situations. These plans involve efforts to protect all students while they are at school.

The actions taken during any type of emergency situation depend a great deal on the specifics of the incident. For example, one or more schools may evacuate, lock down, or initiate a shelter-in-place response, according to the nature of the threat. The main objective is the protection of the students and staff members. School staff have a variety of "tools" to use and have received training on how to work with each of these. In any crisis situation, Northshore would follow direction from public safety officials as appropriate. The ability to remain flexible is a key component of each school's plan and of district wide preparations.

If you have questions about your child or about your school's safety and support responses, please contact your principal. Everyone in the Northshore School District continues to work to make all our schools safe and secure environments for all our students.

Emergency Drill Requirements

As mandated by RCW 28A.320.125, schools are required to conduct the following drills annually:

  • Three lock down drills
  • Three for fire/evacuation
  • One for shelter-in-place
  • One safety related drill to be determined by the district.  Northshore has adopted an Earthquake drill.
  • One using Rapid Responder

Suggested drill dates are provided to schools, based on the district's testing schedule and other possible conflicts.  If a suggested drill date presents a scheduling conflict for an individual school, or a rain-out occurs, the school must reschedule the drill during the same month in order to meet state law.