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Wake County board adopts 'standard response protocol' from I Love You Guys Foundation for emergency response
Summary
The Wake County Board of Education approved a memorandum of understanding to adopt the I Love You Guys Foundation standard response protocol (SRP) as an enhancement to existing emergency procedures, with a phased rollout and training planned during the 2025–26 school year.
The Wake County Board of Education on Aug. 19 voted to adopt the I Love You Guys Foundation's Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and approved a memorandum of understanding to begin a phased implementation of the protocol across district schools.
Mister Scott of the chief-of-staff office described the SRP as replacing code words and colors with plain-language, actionable commands — "hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter" — and said the protocol aligns with recommendations from the district's 2019 safety assessment and the National Incident Management System. "This is the way we need to go," Scott told the board, summarizing the district's rationale.
Scott said the district will not flip to the SRP immediately. The 2025–26 school year will be used as a runway for outreach, training and community education; the district plans quadrant-by-quadrant training across the county and intends to fully replace the existing color-coded system the following year. He said the SRP offers an "all hazards" approach and provides an in-between protective action the district lacked under the previous code-red/code-yellow framework.
Board member Amy Mahaffey moved to accept the proposal; Vice Chair Swanson seconded. Members asked about rollout, public-facing materials for families and students of different ages, and costs. Scott said using the SRP itself carries no licensing fee to the district; the I Love You Guys Foundation does offer on-site training at a cost if the foundation provides instructors. "There is some discussion about bringing them back here," Scott said. He added that the district's plan is to train staff, students and families over a year rather than immediately replacing existing protocols.
Board members generally supported the adoption as an enhancement to existing tools. Vice Chair Swanson framed the protocol as part of a broader community effort to keep schools safe: "This is a reminder, a good reminder for families," he said, citing safe storage of firearms and partnerships with local law enforcement.
The board approved the motion by voice vote. The MOU and rollout plan will guide district training and coordination with school leaders, SROs and local emergency responders.
