Wake County Schools approves emergency safety plan for new school year
Wake County Public Schools unanimously approved an updated emergency preparedness plan on August 18, replacing outdated emergency procedures with a simpler, clearer response system designed to help staff and students react faster during crises.
The board's only formal vote of the meeting approved the Emergency Preparedness Update, which introduces the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to replace the old color-coded emergency procedures like "Code Red" and "Code Yellow." The new system uses plain language and five distinct actions to make emergency responses clearer and faster, especially for younger students who may struggle to remember color codes during stressful situations.
The district has already invested in new safety technology to support the plan. The Rave Panic Button app has been downloaded 5,432 times with 14,000 enrolled users, and the Raptor visitor management system has processed over 1 million scans. However, board members raised questions about whether students and volunteers have received adequate training on the new Standard Response Protocol, and whether the emergency visuals will be clear enough for elementary-age children to understand quickly.
The board also spent significant time discussing student discipline and bullying prevention, though no formal votes were taken. Board members expressed concerns about inconsistent parent notification when students are disciplined, disproportionate suspension rates affecting Black and Brown students, and gaps in the current bullying policy that could allow students to face discipline without a proper hearing. The district's attorney flagged this as a legal issue requiring urgent attention. The board emphasized that discipline should focus on correcting behavior rather than punishment, with only the most serious infractions (Level 4) resulting in automatic suspension.
Finally, the board reviewed updates to the Board Advisory Committee application process, streamlining how community members are appointed and renewed to these committees. Staff will implement suggested form changes, though the board continues debating how to balance district-wide consistency on topics like AI policy and budgets with flexibility for communities to address local concerns. These discussions will continue at future committee meetings.
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Votes (3)
Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Practices Discussion
The discussion began with an overview of desired outcomes, including revisiting the referral process in Infinite Campus, outlining future topics for student well-being, and reviewing the code of conduct for the upcoming school year. Key updates included the transition of teacher referrals to Infinite Campus and the shift towards restorative practices. Concerns were raised regarding parental notification consistency, the application of tiered discipline, the definition of 'mutual respect' for minor behaviors, and the disproportionate suspension rates affecting black and brown students. The board also discussed the timing of future policy discussions relative to student achievement committee meetings.
Board Advisory Committee (BAC) Forms and Policy Review
The session presented updates to the BAC member appointment form, including making it fillable, adjusting term renewal options to one academic year with renewal up to three years, and clarifying the requirement for a wet signature from board members. Discussion also covered making the expectations form fillable and concerns about the inclusion of 'spouse' information on the form. A key point of debate was the balance between having consistent, district-wide agenda topics for BACs (e.g., AI policy, strategic plan, budget) and allowing flexibility for local communities to address unique, community-driven issues.
Emergency Preparedness Update for School Year
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Board Member [1:12:35] · Seconded by Unknown Board Member [1:12:40]
Mr. Scott provided a high-level overview of emergency preparedness, covering mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, emphasizing the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) that replaces old code procedures. Updates included the adoption of the Rave Panic Button (with 5,432 downloads and 14,000 enrolled users) and the Raptor visitor management system (over 1 million scans). The School Risk Management Plan (SRMP) serves as the comprehensive emergency operations plan. Board members raised questions about the training for SRP, particularly for students and volunteers, and the clarity of emergency visuals for elementary students.
Notable Quotes (11)
Compliance is the baseline, but accountability and partnership are the goal.
Level four rule is the only infraction that is a zero tolerance policy and administration must take action and suspend a student when that occurs.
I will say that it gives me a lot of pause when you say if it's repeated because to As an official, if it happens once, gone. They cuss at each other a little bit. That's different. But if you moment you catch an official or teacher, I don't believe it should be a well, if they did it once, eh, if they did it multiple times, then it becomes a problem.
A principal, and I heard it very loud and clear, a principal does not have to suspend unless it is a firearm.
an issue that we've identified in past years that really does need urgent addressing are problems um with due process and the bullying policy where right now the policy is structured and I think the idea was a good idea, but it's in initiated by the victim of bullying. But depending on what happens with the policy, then you could have an order basically instituting discipline against a student who has had no hearing and has in effect received no due process.
The chairs um of the board advisory council's biggest request was to change the way the form works for the terms. Um it's a term of up to three years into policy and they've asked that we make it one academic year on the form with the option to renew up to three years on the same form without having to fill out a new form or it lasting and then they move out of that school and then there's confusion over who represents.
I think on one hand there's a benefit of consistency, but I also think we should be able to retain some sort of flexibility to have things that are sort of like unique to and responsive to the communities we represent.
And so I think for us with what you all may be asking um for three topics out of four times a year that we're going to meet, you're basically controlling what we do as a BAC to speak about in in in some sense. And so what I'm thinking is a possibility that um like if Mr. If we haven't discussed a topic that that the board chair and vice chair may be elevating for us to discuss in our districts, then maybe we can take 5 to 10 minutes to discuss that, but keep our our headlining still kind of the same, so to speak, to at least announce or provide a one pager where families can get more information and support.
So what you're going to hear me say a lot about today is responding. We respond in Wake County Schools and things. So, that means we have a plan and how we execute 21.
This will be replacing the old code red and code yellow procedures. This will be the standard way that we respond to things going forward. There's five distinct actions. It's plain speak. It gets us away from using those codes and colors and things that you have to remember.
I think that when you have the graphic, you have the color, it sends a message and it's when you're in emergency mode, clear and swift like like somebody understands what they're looking at. So, it's quick response and you understand what it is that you're doing.
Ordinances & Resolutions (15)
Outlines student behavior expectations, referral processes, and disciplinary actions, with levels 1-5 infractions.
Student information system used for documenting disciplinary referrals, now expanded for teacher use.
Requires school districts to publish discipline policies.
Appeals policy, to be discussed during an upcoming policy meeting.
Establishes a clear philosophy that discipline is meant to correct behavior, not just collect consequences.
Future mental health plan to be reviewed on August 25th.
Outlines the roles and duties of the Board Advisory Committees.
Prohibits specific detailed discussion of emergency plans in public sessions.
Relates to confidential student information.
Relates to confidential student information (FERPA).
The state platform where district and site-specific emergency operations plans are maintained and updated.
An application allowing staff to communicate with 911 and school officials during emergencies, also used for drills and internal staff assist notifications.
A visitor management system used for scanning IDs, with over 1 million scans and restricted access lists.
New emergency response model replacing old code red/yellow procedures, using plain language action verbs.
The district's primary document for responding to emergencies, migrated to the state SRMP platform.
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Bullying Prevention Strategies
Board Advisory Committee (BAC) Operations and Policy
School Emergency Preparedness and Safety Protocols
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