Building Safety Expectations
Updated safety measures for the 2025-26 school year
In the Independence School District, the safety and well-being of our students, staff and visitors is our top priority. To ensure a secure and supportive learning environment, we ask that everyone follow the building safety expectations outlined below. By working together, we can create a school community where all students feel protected, respected and ready to learn.
Why This Matters
These steps make sure our classrooms are always in a secure position, so that in the event of an emergency, staff can act quickly with just a few additional steps. The goal is readiness, not fear — we want students to feel confident about what to do, not anxious. All of this information is timely with the new safety requirements as outlined in Missouri Senate Bill 68, the recent ranking of Missouri as 50th on the state list for public school safety, and the numerous other school shootings we’ve seen in recent years.
Transition to Strategos Training
Our district currently uses the ALICE model for intruder preparedness, but we are transitioning to a new safety model through Strategos International beginning this school year. Our School Resource Officers will receive Strategos training throughout the year, and staff will be trained before the 2026–27 school year. Strategos focuses on clear, consistent, and practical steps that keep classrooms in a ready position while minimizing disruption to learning.
About Strategos International
Strategos International is based right here in Independence, MO — just down the street from our district offices. With over 20 years of experience, they specialize in school safety training and consulting, providing practical, hands-on strategies to keep students and staff secure while maintaining a welcoming learning environment.
Supporting Students
We know that conversations about safety can sometimes worry students. We have provided staff with age-appropriate language to explain these procedures and reassure students that their job is to stay calm and follow directions — and that our job is to keep them safe.
Here are the talking points intended to guide conversations between teachers and students:
Early Education/Elementary
- “Our school has some important safety steps to make sure everyone stays safe every day.”
- “The outside doors stay locked so only people who are supposed to be here can come in.”
- “Our classroom door will always stay closed and locked, but you’ll still see a little window open so people can look in.”
- “If we ever have a safety drill, we’ll quickly cover the rest of the window.”
- “We practice safety drills just like we practice fire drills or tornado drills - it helps us know what to do so we don’t feel scared.”
- “Your job is to stay calm, listen carefully, and follow directions. My job is to keep you safe.”
Secondary
- “We’re making sure our building stays safe by keeping all exterior doors locked. Don’t hold doors open for anyone, even if it feels polite. Everyone must enter through the main office.”
- “Our classroom door will always stay closed and locked. If you’re leaving the class for the restroom, close the door behind you. When you come back to class and knock, we’ll see you through the 3-4 inch space in the door window and let you in.”
- “If we go into a lockdown or intruder drill, we’ll cover the window completely.”
- “We’ll continue practicing safety drills throughout the year. Take them seriously - they’re about building muscle memory so you know exactly what to do without thinking twice.”
- “Part of keeping our school safe is awareness: if you notice someone in the building who doesn’t belong, don’t ignore it. Tell a teacher, the office, or an SRO.”
- “The goal isn’t to scare anyone - it’s to make sure we’re ready. The more we practice, the less stressful it feels if something ever happens.”