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Shelter in Place Issued/Lifted Due to Threat

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Updated December 8, 2018: A shelter in place was issued (and lifted) at Orange Unified and and Anaheim Union school district schools due to calls that involved vague threats. At approximately 8:30 am several schools in OUSD received calls that are now believed to be a hoax. All Villa Park schools including Serrano, VPE, Cerro Villa and VPHS were issued a shelter in place warning and there was police activity at all four schools. The shelter in place was lifted at approximately 10:00 am and law enforcement maintained a presence at and around the affected schools sites throughout the remainder of the day.

Lockdown or Shelter in Place?

What might be of greater long-term concern is the communication from OUSD and the police departments. The OC Sheriff and Orange Police Department called this event a shelter in place. The Anaheim Police Department called it a lockdown.  The official OUSD press release and email to parents stated “During this time, affected schools sheltered in place which means class activities continued as usual within locked classrooms.” However, at least one OUSD school (Villa Park Elementary), had teachers and administrators calling it a lockdown and, by VPE definition of the two protocols, a lockdown is what occurred, with children on the floor with the lights out and the doors locked. Did OUSD issue a lockdown initially or did some schools go into lockdown despite receiving a shelter in place notification?

Also of concern is that many OUSD parents and children had never heard of a shelter in place prior to the events that transpired, let alone what the difference is between a lockdown and shelter in place (see below). By many accounts, OUSD children have been trained on what a lockdown is but do not understand the protocol of a shelter in place. Additionally, the OUSD website does not appear to explain either emergency protocol outside of a few OUSD schools that specifically address these two terms.

Shelter in Place – (formally called soft lockdown) Instruction may continue as usual, no students allowed in or outside room until the all clear is called. This may be called when there is a danger in the community or hazardous conditions outside.

Lockdown– All students move away from doors and windows and crouch in a hiding place in room. Lights are off and doors are closed and locked. Students outside move to nearest room on announcement. Designated rooms are available during lunch time to shelter students; this is also practiced. Team sweeps campus if possible. Students accounted for by staff internal messaging system. In a true lockdown doors remained lock until police or administrator come to rooms. Law enforcement does consult with the staff to help guide these procedures.

VPE/OUSD Source.

 

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