ALICE

In 2013, Olentangy Schools adopted procedures for lockdown that we, as well as our local sheriff’s department and the Office of Homeland Security, believe are more effective in the unlikely event there is an armed intruder in one of our buildings. This program is called A.L.I.C.E.

A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. It is an enhanced lockdown technique that calls for making active decisions. The district believes that the A.L.I.C.E. protocol provides options to our staff and students in an emergency situation.

ALERT - Use of clear concise language to convey the type and location of the event.

LOCKDOWN - Doors are locked to provide a time barrier and give students/teachers time to recognize the threat and decide how to react.

INFORM - If possible keep teachers, students, and police up to date on the armed intruder’s location inside the school.

COUNTER - Apply skills to distract, confuse and gain control.

EVACUATE - Leave the premises and get away from the danger as soon as possible.

All teachers and building staff have completed training in this technique. At points throughout the year they will be discussing the enhanced lockdown techniques with students in an age appropriate manner. Teachers, building staff and students will have the option to evacuate, barricade or use evasive distractions to get away from an armed intruder.

While it is clear that no absolute guarantees for safety exist, know that we are doing everything we can to minimize risk and that we hold the safety of our students - your children - as the single most important responsibility bestowed on us as a school community.