Dear Families,

This is an important message from the Office of Safety and Security.

I hope this message finds you well and energized for the new school year. The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. This year, Albemarle County Public Schools will continue using the ALICE training protocol in all schools to help everyone be prepared for emergencies.

ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. It’s a nationally recognized, evidence-based program that teaches school staff and students how to stay safe in situations involving an active shooter or violent intruder. ALICE empowers individuals by giving them options to make informed decisions during a crisis based on what’s happening in real-time.

The primary goal of ALICE training is to mitigate risk and injury and create a safer learning environment for everyone. It focuses on clear communication, practice, and working closely with the police. All school staff participated in ALICE training last year, and we have a process in place for training new employees.

We know that talking about school safety can be hard, and we will approach it with care. To help families understand ALICE, we are sharing the video that will be shown to our middle and high school students next week: ALICE: An Explanation for Students.

We will also provide opportunities for our middle and high school staff, students and families to talk about how the ALICE method will be used in our schools. Our goal is to make sure everyone feels informed and prepared while keeping our schools safe and supportive.

Thank you for helping us make Albemarle County Public Schools a safe place for learning and growing. If you have questions about how ALICE training is being implemented in your child’s school, please contact your school principal.

Sincerely,

Ralph T. Bradley
Director, School Safety and Security