Safety and Security

The safety and security of our students is our number one priority.
We are blessed to have a great relationship with first responders in our community that include the Portsmouth Police Department and the Portsmouth Fire Department. We work closely with them in formulating the safety plan we must submit to the state each year.
We believe in continuous improvement to keep our students safe. Some of our most recent safety improvements include increasing additional video surveillance equipment on both school campuses, the installation of secure entrances at major entry points at both school campuses, the creation of School Threat Assessment Teams, and the future installation of secure entrances at all doors at both school campuses, and privacy film on ground level doors and windows. We currently have a School Resource Officer who has been assigned to our schools. Teachers have been trained in safety procedures and emergency response, and continual audits take place at every school building to improve safety. Some examples include increased lighting, adding security cameras to certain areas, improved landscaping to increase visibility and an emphasis on adult awareness of the physical surroundings. Staff are also given permission and encouraged to question those who are near our schools without an obvious purpose. We have learned that an alert, aware and prudent staff and community is the most effective method of keeping our students safe.
We have student mental health personnel again this school year and we have added a new student sensory room at our Jr. High/High School building.

We continue to ask students, staff, parents, and community members, if you see something, say something. Information can be reported anonymously online at www.easttartans.org 365 days per year, 24 hours per day.
On the web page below, we have some additional information regarding safety terminology and communication.

Sincerely,

Foresta Shope

Superintendent