District reviews layered safety strategy, emergency drills and partnerships with public safety agencies

The Okaloosa County School District presented a detailed overview of its safety, security and emergency management work ahead of the new school year, saying officials conducted risk assessments, coordinated exercises with first responders and rolled out campus‑specific procedures. A district safety official leading the presentation described the Office of Safe Schools as overseeing safety for all district and charter public schools and listed summer initiatives: a comprehensive security risk assessment for every campus, tours and exercises with local first responders, a family reunification functional exercise, and on‑site public safety training. "We conducted campus tours for public safety agencies that allowed first responders to familiarize themselves with school layouts, provide feedback on existing safety and security systems," the official said. The official outlined physical and technological measures: single point of entry at campuses, access control systems, integrated video surveillance linked to a real‑time crime center with intelligent analytics, critical response mapping for first responders, redundant mass notification systems, and multidisciplinary harm prevention and threat management teams at every school. The district emphasized training and communication, noting that all campus drills must begin with a clear announcement that "this is a drill" to minimize student distress. Officials urged parents to rely on verified updates from the district and the sheriff's office during incidents and discouraged parents from coming to a school during an active lockdown because it can interfere with emergency response. "We strongly encourage parents and guardians to rely on accurate, verified updates from official sources such as the school district and the sheriff's office," the presentation said. The district also noted students are trained to use the FortifyFL anonymous reporting app and directed families to the district safety web page for ongoing resources. The presentation was informational; no formal board action was recorded in the workshop transcript.