Mr. William Ostroski
Safety Coordinator

Safety Committee

Threat Assessment Team

Safe2Say Program Brochure

Safe2Say Student Training

Intruder Drill Letter

Standard Response Protocol

The Brandywine Heights Area School District is committed to creating a learning environment that protects the safety and security of our students and staff, and considers their safety to be of the utmost importance. Whether it is prevention, preparedness, response, or recovery, the BHASD Safety and Security team strives to manage every phase of the emergency readiness competently and effectively. Through this framework, we can continue to build a safe and secure learning environment. The Brandywine Heights Area School District follows Act 44 of 2018 (Senate Bill 1142).

The following information details several of the district wide safety and security measures in place to help safeguard our school community:

Safety and Security Coordinator: Working in coordination with the superintendent and other school leaders, the Safety and Security Coordinator provides leadership and guidance in efforts focused on promoting safety in our schools.

Safety Committee: Multiple employee classifications are represented in this committee to provide regular building assessment regarding workplace safety. This committee meets monthly to review safety concerns, protocols, and procedures.

Threat Assessment Team: Each building has a threat assessment team, a group of trained staff members that convene to identify, evaluate, and address threats or potential threats to school security. 

Emergency Operations Plan: Our Emergency Operations Plan contains guidelines and procedures that are applicable to all BHASD staff and facilities. This all-hazards district wide plan is reviewed and updated on an annual basis.

Emergency Management Coordination: BHASD maintains close working relationships with local law enforcement, emergency management services, and local intermediate unit. Our Safety and Security Coordinator meets regularly with local, county, and state emergency management personnel to ensure student and staff safety and security. Local law enforcement agencies regularly visit and evaluate buildings to provide feedback and recommendations as working partners in providing campus safety and security.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): BHASD maintains agreements with our community organizations to access shelter locations should there be a need to evacuate a school beyond our district facilities. The district also has an MOU with the local and state agencies to establish protocols for notifying police for certain offenses and/or emergency situations on school grounds.

Mandatory Training: All BHASD staff is trained annually - this training provides preparation and a plan on how to proactively handle a threat of an aggressive intruder. Brandywine faculty, staff, and students also participate in multiple hours of annual safety training related to safety and security issues.

Safe2Say Something Program

This program, mandated under Pennsylvania Act 44 to be implemented in all school districts in January 2019, teaches students and staff how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others. Further, it educates them to SAY SOMETHING to a trusted adult OR to use the Safe2Say anonymous reporting system.

What does the Safe2Say program educate participants to do?

• Recognize the signs and signals of at-risk behaviors - especially within social media.

• Take every sign and signal seriously to act quickly to get help by talking to a trusted adult OR by reporting it anonymously through the Safe2Say reporting system.

• Respond to and manage the submitted tip via school-based multi-disciplinary educator and administrator teams.

How can someone report an anonymous tip through the Safe2Say reporting system? Adults and youth are able to report tips anonymously through the Office of Attorney General's 24/7 Crisis Center (1-888-SAF2SAY), through a mobile app (apple or android), or through Pennsylvania's Safe2Say Something website www.safe2saypa.org. Examples that may be reported through Safe2Say include, but are not limited to, information regarding student safety, substance abuse, or potential threats to individuals or to our school facilities.