Emergency Management, Safety & Security
We are committed to supporting safe and welcoming learning and work environments for students and staff in Minneapolis Public Schools.
The MPS emergency plan addresses four areas of crisis management: prevention, preparedness/mitigation, response, and recovery. The plan considers the needs of all students and staff. There is also special planning for students and staff with disabilities and those learning English.
The MPS emergency management plan has been developed with help from the City of Minneapolis Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security. Staff have and will continue to receive training in emergency related procedures, with mandated drills and exercises being essential parts of planning.
All MPS sites have their own site-specific emergency plan and trained Site Emergency Team (SET) members who continue to receive additional training on a monthly basis. The SET members are training staff within their sites on these emergency procedures and planning.
The goal is to institutionalize emergency planning into the day-to-day operations and management of each school and administrative site in the district.
Access student support services and mental health resources.
Contact
Ernest Sutton
Director, EMSS
612-986-6831
Moises Delatorre
Manager, EMSS
612-986-2556
Shawn Shipman
Manager, EMSS
612-986-8655
Brandon Krona
Project Coordinator
612-919-9170
Relationships, Ready, Respond, Recover
The EMSS Specialist assigned to your school is a relationship expert. With an eye to the overall safety of the building, Specialists work with site leadership teams to ensure safety by consulting, supporting, and connecting people and resources. EMSS Specialists focus on prevention, getting to know the staff and students, and learning the individual needs of each school site. They are your liaison between law enforcement and other emergency services.
HELPme App
Have you ever needed help but were too afraid to ask for it? Have you ever felt that asking for help would make you look weak? Have you ever wondered why asking for help can be so hard?
With the HELPme app, we are here to help you find resources and support when you need it most, while removing anything that stops people from getting that help. The HELPme app is your connection to help that respects your dignity and privacy.
MPS Emergency Protocols
Student Walkouts
Student Voice
We know our students may be affected by events in our community. Families and caregivers should know that MPS respects students' First Amendment right to free speech and to peacefully assemble. A process should be in place as part of a school wide positive engagement plan for students and families to share concerns without fear of reprisal. Regular meetings should be held for students and administration so the students can feel connected to decisions that impact their education. We understand that at times, students across the city may participate in walkouts or protests.
Safety Information for Families and Caregivers
We do, however, need to maintain some protocols around these actions in order to protect the rights and safety of all staff and students. When MPS is aware of a high possibility of a walk out, families and caregivers are informed so they can help their student choices for their education and their safety. If your child is considering some form of civic action, please speak with them about how they can stay safe and abide by these policies at their school.
The MPS practice is that if students leave school property, they will not be able to return to the school for the remainder of the day or participate in after-school activities – and they will receive an unexcused absence, unless there are special circumstances. If students leave the building, but do not leave grounds, they can be asked to leave only when their continued presence creates a significant disruption to the educational environment. While the administration will not be disciplining students for protesting/demonstrating, any other infractions that take place during the protest/demonstration will be addressed in accordance with standard practice.
Students under 9th grade wishing to participate in a walk out will be required to follow normal sign-out procedures for their school building, requiring sign out by a parent or previously authorized adult, or written permission in advance from an authorized parent or guardian. If students refuse to comply with the request to follow protocol, parents shall be called prior to students leaving if possible.
Resources
In addition to the MPS procedures around protests, the following may also be helpful:
Family Resources
Preparing for an emergency is everyone's job. Safety experts agree that the most important things to do to be ready are:
- Create a family emergency plan and discuss it with all family members.
- Build a kit so you are able to be self-sufficient for three days after an emergency.
- Practice your plan so that when an emergency happens, everyone knows his or her role.
Severe Weather Information and Resources