Meeting walks through 'Big Five' emergency actions for school safety
February 25, 2026 | Alisal Union, School Districts, California
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District staff provided a detailed walkthrough of the district's emergency-response protocol, referred to repeatedly as the "Big Five" actions. The five actions were described as: (1) drop/cover/hold on ("agacharse, cubrirse y sujetarse"), (2) shelter in place, (3) secure the campus, (4) lockout and barricade, and (5) evacuate.
Shelter in place: staff explained this keeps students and staff inside while instruction continues when outdoor air or nearby hazards make going outside unsafe (examples cited include poor air quality after fires and chemical incidents). The presenter recommended closing exterior doors and windows and, in some cases, limiting HVAC use if outdoor air is harmful.
Secure campus and incident command: officials emphasized that securing the campus is used when a threat exists nearby (not necessarily inside the building), and that the school's incident commander — the principal — coordinates with police to determine when it is safe to release students.
Lockout/barricade and evacuation decisions: staff described barricading doors or creating obstacles to slow access when an active threat is nearby, but advised that staff must evaluate whether running is safer than barricading depending on proximity of the threat.
Practice and family guidance: the presenter said schools practice drills regularly (monthly practices and some drills three times a year for drop/cover/hold on) and urged families not to come to campuses during active incidents because vehicles and crowds can obstruct emergency responders. Staff noted that mental-health teams responded after a recent false-alarm incident and encouraged families to keep emergency contact information up to date.
Resources: staff said presentation materials and links are available on the district website and that coordinators will provide templates and family-facing materials at school events.
No new policy or funding was adopted at the meeting; staff said the presentation is part of ongoing safety practice and community outreach.
Shelter in place: staff explained this keeps students and staff inside while instruction continues when outdoor air or nearby hazards make going outside unsafe (examples cited include poor air quality after fires and chemical incidents). The presenter recommended closing exterior doors and windows and, in some cases, limiting HVAC use if outdoor air is harmful.
Secure campus and incident command: officials emphasized that securing the campus is used when a threat exists nearby (not necessarily inside the building), and that the school's incident commander — the principal — coordinates with police to determine when it is safe to release students.
Lockout/barricade and evacuation decisions: staff described barricading doors or creating obstacles to slow access when an active threat is nearby, but advised that staff must evaluate whether running is safer than barricading depending on proximity of the threat.
Practice and family guidance: the presenter said schools practice drills regularly (monthly practices and some drills three times a year for drop/cover/hold on) and urged families not to come to campuses during active incidents because vehicles and crowds can obstruct emergency responders. Staff noted that mental-health teams responded after a recent false-alarm incident and encouraged families to keep emergency contact information up to date.
Resources: staff said presentation materials and links are available on the district website and that coordinators will provide templates and family-facing materials at school events.
No new policy or funding was adopted at the meeting; staff said the presentation is part of ongoing safety practice and community outreach.
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