School Safety – Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

Downloadable and printable PDF is available here: https://gpsk12.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/20260909-GPS-School-Safety-Packet-vf2.pdf

Greenfield Public Schools wants families and community members to understand what happens in our schools, including in the case of an emergency. These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) answer some of the most pressing concerns we hear about before, during, and after an emergency at a school. When we hear other questions frequently, we will add to this FAQ.

How is GPS proactive in educating students about the dangers of hate speech, bullying, harassment, and other similar behaviors?

Greenfield Public Schools educates students using social-emotional practices that work to encourage them to actively practice kindness, inclusion, and respect towards themselves and others. Elementary students engage in daily classroom exercises to prioritize kind and safe behavior during morning meetings.

At the secondary level, to ensure that students and staff are staying active in GPS’s commitment to fostering an environment where everyone feels supported and safe, we have built partnerships with organizations such as these to help educate students and staff on best practices for safety and inclusion.

What resources does GPS have to support students struggling with their mental health?

Our clinical team is available to provide support and assistance to students and families.  School Nurses, School Counselors, administration, and others can be accessed throughout the school day. 

How does GPS prepare students and staff for emergencies?

In addition to following all state regulations to maintain safe and secure schools, GPS is putting together emergency backpack kits in each classroom that contains supplies. We are also developing a flip book that provides instructions on how to act in a variety of different situations that will be included in the backpack. Students and staff also practice safety drills mentioned in the flip book multiple times during the school year. 

GPS also has a district-wide Safety Team made up of 30+ individuals made up of administrators, administrative assistants, teachers, nurses, police and fire chiefs, road crews, and the bus company. The team reviews all safety procedures, and explores new ways to build on them. 

If an emergency occurs when will parents/guardians be notified?

GPS will inform parents as soon as possible when an emergency takes place at one of the schools within the District.

How are parents/guardians informed if an emergency takes place?

GPS will make every effort to communicate critical news and updates to parents/guardians as soon as possible. Parents/guardians may be notified via automated telephone messaging and/or email notification via ParentSquare.

ParentSquare services as the main communication platform for GPS and can be used to reach familes through multiple channels, including the ParentSquare app, email, text, and voice.

It is critical that all emergency contact information – including home, work, cell phone and e-mail addresses – are kept up to date so that quick and accurate notification can occur.

What role does law enforcement play in an emergency?

If an emergency takes place where law enforcement is deemed necessary, local law enforcement will immediately be notified. Based on the situation at hand, local law enforcement will decide if state or federal authorities should be involved.

In some cases, local authorities will have initiated our emergency response in which case they will be involved from the very beginnning.

Once a parent/guardian is notified of an emergency, what happens next?

GPS will notify parents as soon as possible and if necessary, will give additional directions. We ask that parents/guardians read all notifications from the school, and follow any instructions they receive to help ensure the safety of all students and staff members.

How can parents/guardians help in an emergency?

Parents/guardians should always make sure their emergency contact information is up-to-date with the District using ParentSquare. The best action parents/guardians can take in an emergency is to stay close to their phone or email and review any information or instructions shared by the District. 

What is the procedure when GPS assesses risk/threats?

Assessing a threat can happen very quickly. The goal is to ensure the safety of all students and staff while addressing underlying issues effectively.

School-based risk/threat assessment procedures involve a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and responding to potential risks or threats within the school environment. This process typically includes gathering information from various sources, such as staff, students, and parents, to identify warning signs or concerning behaviors.

A team, often including school administrators, the school-based mental health team, and security personnel, assesses the severity of the threat, considering factors like intent and capacity for harm. Based on this assessment, appropriate interventions are implemented, which may range from counseling and support services to security measures or collaboration with law enforcement and/or community behavioral health providers. 

How does GPS and law enforcement work together to ensure schools are safe?

Massachusetts State law (Section 363 of chapter 159 of the Acts of 2000 and Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2012) requires schools and districts to develop and implement multi-hazard evacuation plans and medical behavioral emergency response plans in collaboration with local law enforcement and fire departments. 

Multi-Hazard Evacuation Plans for Schools: requires that superintendents of schools work with local police and fire chiefs to develop a school-specific multi-hazard evacuation plan for each school in the district. The plan must address fire and hazardous storms or disasters, as well as shootings, bomb threats, or terrorist activities. The plan must include a crisis response team, a designated manager of an incident, a communication plan, and protocols for safe and effective evacuations.

Each school committee and commonwealth charter school board of trustees shall ensure that every school under its jurisdiction has a written emergency response plan that addresses both medical and behavioral health crises to reduce the incidence of life-threatening medical emergencies and behavioral health crises and to promote efficient and appropriate responses to such emergencies.