Safety and Security
West Oso ISD commits to ensuring each child is physically and emotionally secure in our schools. We train all students, teachers, staff, and administration to follow the Standard Response Protocols. Please refer to this page for important information regarding safety and security.
Committee
The School Safety and Security Committee provides the district with guidance related to safety efforts, drills, exercises, school safety, security audits, policy development, and training. School district and community partners that collaboratively provide recommendations to the district’s board of trustees and district administrators make up the committee.
TEA Notice – Required School Safety Steps This Summer
Meetings
Public meetings will occur at least four times per calendar year. We will post meeting notices in the same manner as notice of a meeting of the district’s board of trustees. All meetings will take place at the West Oso ISD Administration Building Board Room, 5350 Bear Lane, Corpus Christi, Texas 78405.
Anonymous Reporting of incidents of Cyberbullying, Threats, or Mental Health Concerns
All of us have a part in keeping each other safe. Students can use anonymous reporting to alert campus staff if a student is a harm to self or others. Students or parents can submit reports such as bullying, cyberbullying, depression, dating violence, drug or alcohol use, threats against the school, weapons on campus, and more. All messages submitted remain completely anonymous.
Student Bullying Reporting Form
The following is a list of collapsible links. After selecting the link, additional content will expand. Arrow down to read the additional content.
Emergency Phone Numbers
Active Threat Lockdown
During an active threat situation, such as an active shooter-type attack, we empower all staff to take action to protect themselves and others. The basic Active Threat Lockdown options are Avoid, Deny, which may include a standard lockdown in a classroom, or, as a last resort, Defend.
For non-active threats, which do not involve imminent danger, such as a non-violent intruder, use the Heightened Security response.
Bomb Threat (Lockout, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter)
If caller ID is available, the person who receives the bomb threat over the telephone writes down the incoming phone number and gives it to the police. They write down and provide as much information as possible to authorities, i.e., the threat, male or female voice, background noise, and the accent and tone of the caller.
- Call 9-1-1.
- Principal or designee notified.
- We remove students from the immediate area and wait for directions from the principal or designee.
- Students remain in the designated area until all is clear.
Bus/Transportation-Related Emergencies
If a bus-related emergency or medical emergency occurs, we contact appropriate officials, 9-1-1, transportation, and the campus principal.
- Transportation will deploy replacement transportation as the situation demands.
Death on School Grounds
If death on campus occurs because of a suicide, homicide, accident, or natural causes, we call 9-1-1 and secure the scene. This allows first responders to take the next necessary steps. We then deploy a district counseling team.
Evacuation Procedures
We call for evacuation when there is a need to move students from one location to another. Campus staff, with students, practice one evacuation drill each month—a minimum of two drills per year.
- Activate the fire alarm, if necessary.
- Radio/call building administrator.
- Staff and students proceed to the designated evacuation site.
Fire/Arson Emergencies
State law requires schools to practice fire drills once a month during any month with ten or more school days. Arson means the unauthorized starting of a fire on school property. The first person to detect fire:
- Activate the fire alarm system
- Call 9-1-1
- Radio/call building administrator
- Staff and students proceed to the designated emergency evacuation site
Heightened Security
We enact heightened security measures when there is an indicator or threat of violence that is outside the school. If the threat is already inside the school, implement intruder response plans. We designed heightened security measures to compartmentalize the school, making entry access to occupants more difficult.
If there is an active threat, such as an active shooter, enact an Active Threat Lockdown.
Medical Emergencies
The School Health Office and school nurse are responsible for providing health care and emergency treatment until Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or a parent/guardian arrives to assume health care responsibility.
When a student becomes seriously ill or injured, we notify the parent/guardian and the school principal or designee immediately. In serious cases with a need for immediate medical attention, the school nurse will call 9-1-1 and provide care.
Parents who have specific concerns about medical care for their student with a pre-existing condition should notify the campus nurse directly.
Missing/Abducted/Kidnapped Student(s)
A student is missing if unaccounted for at school, on school property, at a school activity, or while traveling to and from school. In the event we confirm a student is missing, we notify school officials, parents, and 9-1-1.
Raptor Visitor Management Alerts
We require identification from all campus visitors. The visitor management system scans the sexual offender database alerting campus staff to a possible match.
- The campus administrator has the final authority to control access on their campus.
- We may permit parents or legal guardians of a child or children enrolled in district schools to be on school property or in attendance at school-sponsored activities, even if they are in the database.
- If we allow access, a school employee will escort the parent/guardian the entire time they are on campus, and they will have no unescorted access to any common area of the building.
- We will not permit any other person known to be a registered sex offender, based on an offense against a child, to be present on school property or at any school-sponsored activity.
Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
Anyone who suspects abuse or neglect of a child has a legal responsibility to report it to law enforcement or Child Protective Services (CPS). West Oso ISD teachers and staff received Child Abuse and Neglect training during August in-service.
Any district employee, agent, or contractor has an additional legal obligation to submit a report to law enforcement or CPS, as applicable, within 48 hours of when the person first suspects child abuse or neglect. Failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect is a criminal offense. Do not try to investigate suspicions; a trained investigator will evaluate the child’s situation.
You cannot delegate this responsibility to another person. All persons who suspect child abuse or neglect must make their report.
Sexual Assault
Since sexual assault is a crime of violence, we call 9-1-1. Schools address sexual assault as a crisis or emergency when: rape or sexual assault occurs on school property, a member of the victim’s family or friend requests intervention, or rumors and myths of the alleged incident are widespread and damaging.
Weather Evacuation
In case of a hurricane or flooding, the district will communicate current conditions and plans with parents/guardians and community members, as well as relay the information to local officials. If necessary, we will relocate students and staff within the school community to the best available shelter-in-place areas on higher ground.
Stay updated by tuning into local news stations and the district’s social media pages.
