Questions and Answers

What happens if local, state or federal officers show up at school to talk to students?

The Board Regulation that serves as the foundation for our protocols related to law enforcement is Regulation 5502-1.

Any individual who arrives at a school claiming to be part of a law enforcement agency would be asked to provide verification confirming their authority for the visit along with the specific purpose for their arrival at school. We don’t let any individual claiming to be part of a law enforcement agency enter a building until we’ve followed a multi-step process to both verify their identity and the authenticity of their authority to be on school grounds.

Any contacts or questions by law enforcement are directed to the building administrator who will then work through the multi-step process with the LPS District Office and LPS Security.

While LPS will comply with anything specifically required by law, (e.g. judicial warrants, subpoenas) we will also endeavor to prevent undue interference with district operations and educational programs. This includes maintaining a safe and uninterrupted learning environment for all students.

What does a school do if there is a large law enforcement presence near a school?

Schools use our Standard Response Protocol of Secure any time there is a large law enforcement presence in the community near a school. This is done out of an abundance of caution to ensure student safety. 

A Secure means students and staff are brought inside the building and entrances are locked and monitored. Movement can still happen inside the building as normal. 

If we used the Secure protocol at dismissal, students would be kept inside until it was determined we could safely reunite students with their families. Families would receive notification that the school is using the SRP of Secure and to await further instructions for reunification with their child. Once law enforcement has left the area or we have determined it is safe to dismiss students, instructions will be shared with families on how we will dismiss and ensure students are reunited with their family members.

How will I know about safety concerns at my child’s school?

LPS takes pride in keeping families informed through transparent and thorough communication. When you receive a message from a school, please read or listen thoroughly before contacting the schools to ask questions. Messages will have important instructions for you to follow during an incident. This will help the school ensure phone lines remain available for emergency responders.

How can I discreetly report a safety concern?

Safety is a top concern for us at LPS.  Safe to Say is our anonymous reporting system, which can be used to communicate your safety concerns.  This can be done anonymously or you can be anonymous while still shielding your identity. This allows LPS to communicate back and forth with you to gather important information. There is also an option under Safe to Say which would allow LPS to see your contact information including your name if you choose. You choose how much information you are willing and able to share.  

What is an SRO?

A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a city police officer, with specialized training, who is assigned to support the school and act as a mentor and guardian. SRO’s serve at LPS high schools and middle schools.

What is SRP?

Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is the immediate response during an incident at school.  There are five actions which staff at LPS train to use for any incident response. You can find all the videos we use to train and debrief our students and staff for all SRP actions.

What is Threat Assessment?

Threat assessment is a discrete practice in response to issues of concerns with a focus on prevention.  Please see the threat assessment page to see what makes LPS unique and how LPS applies threat management in the school setting.

Why do I need to check in at school?

When adults check into schools, we are able to verify they are in the building for appropriate reasons and that they are safe to be in the school. When adults wear their ID’s in the school, it lets school staff know the person checked in and is approved to be in our schools. 

Where can I find info about being a volunteer at LPS?

Community members and families who wish to volunteer at Lincoln Public Schools can learn more about the process and complete the required paperwork by going to this volunteer application page.