Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Shakopee schools outline updated crisis, safety plans: run-hide-fight training, weather-aware fire drills and SRO changes
Summary
District staff previewed annual crisis-and-safety work, including two new SROs, a state-submitted plan to allow interior sheltering on severe-weather fire alarms, a district-specific run-hide-fight training replacing ALICE, and a public rollout of reunification and event-specific crisis manuals.
Assistant Superintendent Jim McClosic and District Crisis and Safety Coordinator Ken Christiansen presented the district’s annual crisis-and-safety update July 28, detailing staffing changes, procedural updates and training planned for the 2025–26 school year.
McClosic said the district will add two sworn school resource officers (SROs) this year — Jeff Wyckoff and Keith Downey — and that Sergeant Angela Trunt will serve as the primary police contact for regular coordination with district staff. He said the district uses a standard threat-assessment checklist for any concerning social-media post, comment or rumor and involves local law enforcement whenever there is a credible threat.
Nut graf: District safety leaders described three near-term changes they said would change how schools respond to certain alarms and incidents: a state fire-marshal review of revised fire-drill procedures to create interior sheltering options during severe weather; a district-adapted run-hide-fight protocol to replace broader ALICE training; and expanded crisis manuals and maps for events held outside school hours or offsite.
Ken Christiansen described the fire-drill issue as a priority. Under current policy with the Shakopee Fire Department, an alarm requires full evacuation regardless of outside weather; Christiansen said the district is working with the state fire marshal to approve a plan that would allow an interior sheltering option during severe-weather events and that the state review was expected back within one to two weeks before school-level rollouts.
Christiansen said the district will switch from national ALICE training to a Shakopee-specific run-hide-fight training that retains ALICE concepts but is tailored to local buildings and student needs; staff training will begin Aug. 1. He said the staff training video is about nine minutes long and that the district will later post a family-facing video explaining the multi-tiered safety matrix and reunification procedures.
The district plans one-on-one visits with teachers and principals to review building-specific procedures, test emergency buttons and door locks, and use the Raptor system to track training completion and renewals. Christiansen said a crisis manual for non-school activities (e.g., outdoor graduations, play practices, facility rentals) will be published so event supervisors can find tornado-shelter maps and contact lists outside regular school hours.
Ending: McClosic said the district reviews every incident to determine what worked and what did not and then shares lessons with other buildings. District officials said they would seek safety grants where available and continue close coordination with Scott County first responders.
