Threat Assessment and Response Protocols

At Mashpee Public Schools, we work to ensure a safe and nurturing educational  environment for our children, our teachers, and our staff. Below is an overview of our  district approach to any potentially threatening comments, behavior, or circumstances  should any such instances develop in any of our schools. The threat assessment  protocol in the MPS was created collaboratively with the Mashpee Police Department  and Mashpee Fire Department/EMS, with input and resources secured from FEMA, the  Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and  Secondary Education, and the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council and the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council . 

Threat Assessment Protocol

Whenever school and/or district administration receives information that an individual  may have made a threatening comment or action targeting oneself, others, or one of our  schools, our threat-assessment protocol is enacted and our administrative team  immediately contacts the Mashpee Police Department through our School Resource  Officer. In general*, our threat assessment protocol and  action steps are as follows:

• ∙ The administrative team immediately works to determine the validity of the threat  and the risk it poses based on the information available and the origin of the  threat (most often social media). If known, the persons involved are engaged  immediately regardless of day and time. 
• ∙ The Mashpee Police Department engages in a separate investigation of the  potential threat, and in cooperation with the administrative team, a final  determination is made regarding the level of risk the threat poses. 
• ∙ Whenever appropriate, our mental health professionals assist in determining the  danger to oneself, others, or the school population.
• ∙ Depending upon the level of risk determined by the entire team, any one of the following next steps may occur separately or in conjunction with one another:
•                  o If the team determines there is a credible threat, we would enact our security measures if this occurs during the school day (ALICE)  or possibly close the school if the threat is made in advance of the school day.

                     o If the team determines that the information is not a valid threat, continue  normal operations or make accommodations to ensure a safe environment.

                        o Implement appropriate school-determined consequences.

                        o  Implement appropriate law enforcement-determined consequences. o Seek further risk-assessment evaluations by mental health professionals outside of the school to prevent harm to self or others.

                        o Upon consideration of all available information, consider school re-entry  requirements when appropriate.

                         o After the incident is over, the entire team debriefs procedures and  resulting consequences. An overview of the event is then communicated  as appropriate.

* This overview is generalized to preserve operational security for the school district and law enforcement.

Communication

With each of these potential threats, we follow our assessment protocol; however, each  situation is treated as a unique and individual circumstance requiring case-specific  determinations. In most cases, the community, the teachers, and the students do not  have access to the full knowledge regarding the details of these primarily confidential  and individual circumstances. This makes specific communication difficult. It is not our  intent to provide vague and/or ambiguous information; instead, we try to give as much  information as the law provides. Too often, careless use of social media results in  reports of threats or statements that have no basis in fact and/or are just foolish in  nature. If we have information that indicates a threat is credible, we will take decisive  action and provide instruction immediately.