Safety and Security

Danielle Heisler

Mrs. Danielle Heisler
Assistant to the Superintendent/Safety and Security Coordinator
717-867-7600 ext. 5002
dheisler@acschools.org

Annville-Cleona School District (ACSD) is committed to creating a positive and safe learning environment. Safety is paramount! Whether it is prevention, preparedness, response, or recovery, the ACSD Safety and Security team strives to manage every phase of emergency readiness competently and effectively. Through the framework, we can continue to build a safe and secure learning environment. ACSD follows Act 44 of 2018 (Senate Bill 1142). 

In order to create a safe environment conducive to learning, it is important that parents and students adhere to the safety and security policies. Questions pertaining to a specific school building should be addressed with your child’s building principal or the District Safety and Security Coordinator/Assistant to the Superintendent.

The following information details several of the district-wide safety and security measures in place to help safeguard our school community. 

  • Emergency Operations Plan: The EOP is a detailed document outlining how ACSD will respond to and recover from a disaster or emergency situation. 

  • Entrances: During the school day, all entrances to our schools, K-12, are locked. Visitors must enter through the main entrance, which is monitored by camera/intercom systems that allow office staff the chance to see and communicate with visitors prior to allowing them to enter.

  • Secure Vestibules: All schools, K-12, have secured vestibules that lead into the school’s office rather than the school’s hallway. Within all vestibules, we have an individual visitor management system that allows visitors to check in and out of the building. Visitors are required to scan their photo ID prior to entrance. 

  • Partnerships with First Responders & Emergency Management Coordinators: The various Police Departments and Lebanon County’s Emergency Management Team work collaboratively to provide support to the district. Police department officials & emergency management coordinators are invited to meet with district administration several times per year to review relevant safety-related issues and update procedures. The district also maintains and annually updates written memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement agencies.

  • School Resource Officer (SRO): In a collaborative initiative with the Cleona Borough Police Department, the District employs a school resource officer (SRO). An SRO is a sworn law enforcement officer assigned to a school on a long-term basis. The SRO is specifically trained in and performs three main functions: law enforcement officer, law-related counselor, and law-related educator. The SRO is based out of Annville-Cleona Secondary School, with access and a presence across all of our schools in cooperation with all three municipalities.

  • Safety and Security Coordinator: Working in coordination with the Superintendent and other school leaders, the Safety and Security Coordinator provides leadership and guidance in efforts focused on promoting safety in our schools. 

  • Threat Assessment Team: In accordance with Act 18, school districts are required to establish at least one team for the assessment of and intervention with students whose behavior may indicate a threat to the safety of the student, other students, school employees, school facilities, the community, or others.

  • Safety Drills: Each of our schools routinely practices a series of drills as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, including ones for fire and severe weather. In addition, the District conducts age-appropriate response to violent intruder (RVI) drills.

  • Safe2Say Something: Act 44 establishes the Safe2Say Something program to ensure anonymous reporting concerning unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities in a school entity or the threat of such activities at a school entity. Safe2Say is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others, and to “say something” BEFORE it is too late.