Safety & Security

District

Safety & Security

The safety of our students, staff, and community is our top priority at Mason City Community Schools. We are dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. We do not tolerate threats or violence in our schools and continuously strive to enhance physical safety, provide additional training, and offer necessary resources for staff, students, and families.

We work closely with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that our district is always prepared to respond effectively to crisis situations. Mason City Community Schools has developed a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that outlines training, staff preparedness, and the roles and responsibilities of everyone before, during, and after an incident. Please understand that many of our procedures and protocols are not disclosed to the public for security reasons.

Discussing School Safety With Your Kids 

When talking to children about safety, it’s important to communicate clearly and effectively. Use age-appropriate language and examples they can relate to. Emphasize the importance of being aware of their surroundings and trusting their instincts. Encourage them to ask questions and share their thoughts on safety topics. Make the conversation engaging by incorporating stories or role-playing scenarios to illustrate safe and unsafe situations. Remember, the goal is to empower kids to make safe choices while feeling secure and confident.

Talking about safety with kids is important but challenging. Here are some resources to help you discuss violence in schools with your children:

Training for Students

Mason City Community Schools prioritizes the safety of students and staff by regularly conducting various emergency drills. Throughout the school year, we hold fire, tornado, and intruder drills to prepare everyone for potential emergencies. In addition to these practical exercises, we conduct tabletop discussions to review and refine our emergency response plans. These comprehensive practices ensure that our school community is well-prepared to respond calmly and effectively to any crisis.

See Something, Say Something

You should call 911 immediately in the event of a crime or emergency where law enforcement and/or paramedics need to be dispatched right away. For non-emergent situations, you should call Westcom Dispatch at 515-222-3321.

Safe+Sound Iowa is a free anonymous school threat reporting tool for all public and accredited non-public schools across Iowa provided by the Governor’s School Safety Bureau and the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Students, school staff, parents, and community members can submit school safety concerns anonymously.

What Families Should Do During an Emergency

During an emergency, it is an instinct for families to want to rush to their child. Mason City Community Schools and our parents share the same goal: To protect and safeguard our students. The District’s systematic procedures guide our response to a wide range of crises.

Here are a few ways parents can help us effectively respond to a crisis:

  • Remain calm, follow procedures, and cooperate with school and public safety officials.
  • Do not go to school. Traffic may block emergency responders from getting to the scene or transporting injured students or staff to emergency medical facilities.
  • Do not call the school. It is essential to keep phone lines open so school officials can make outgoing emergency calls.
  • Remain close to the phone or computer. We will send updates and instructions to you via phone and text messages through our Student Management System. The District will also use its social media sites to relay needed information.

The District may require families to pick up their children at a reunification site other than their school. In this case, please bring your photo ID. The District will communicate the location of the reunification site and further instructions.

Preparation, Response, & Reunification

Mason City Community Schools has an emergency management plan. There are details regarding our emergency response plan that are not shared publicly; we believe it is essential for families to have an overview of our plan.

  • Mason City Community Schools has an established emergency management plan developed in partnership with local law enforcement, as well as other appropriate emergency management resources.
  • Mason City Community Schools analyzes our facilities for safety, security, communication, equipment capabilities, and other areas of operational and functional ability.
  • Mason City Community Schools require annual training for our staff members so they can work together to mitigate a threat or minimize the impact to our children when a natural or manufactured disaster occurs.
  • Mason City Community Schools conducts drills and tabletop exercises with students and staff and regularly consults with police, fire, and emergency response services to improve our plans.
  • Mason City Community Schools will recognize an emergency or disaster early and communicate initial actions to staff, students, and parents.
  • Mason City Community Schools will notify public safety early when appropriate (911, police, fire, rescue, sheriff).
  • Mason City Community Schools will implement actions that follow a predetermined plan to mitigate a threat or minimize the impact to our students when a natural or manufactured disaster occurs.
  • Mason City Community Schools will work with public safety officers when they arrive to maximize positive outcomes.
  • Mason City Community Schools will use our emergency notification system to alert families with accurate information as soon as possible.
    • To ensure you receive alerts, make sure that you have up-to-date contact information in Infinite Campus and notifications are on.
    • Mason City Community Schools has plans in place to provide counseling services to staff, students, and parents when a situation and/or need arises.

Reunification:

  • Mason City Community Schools will implement a controlled release of students to their custodial parents or guardians. This procedure provides a predictable and organized method of reunifying children with their families after an emergency.
    • A controlled release may not be a typical end-of-school-day event, and it may occur at a different location than your child’s school due to the circumstances of the emergency. If the reunification is at a different building, Mason City Community Schools will communicate the alternate location and instructions during the emergency.
    • You will need to:
      • Bring a photo ID.
      • Be patient. Reunification is a process that protects the safety of the student and provides for an accountable change of custody. After check-in, a school district employee will be sent to recover the student while the parent/guardian will step over to the Parent Staging Area.

More Information