“The pillars of safety in Bayfield schools include Standard Response Protocol and Safe to Tell, but also our reporting systems,” Safety Director Jeff Whitmore said. “Our school safety teams and district safety team meet quarterly to examine those pillars and determine if we are honoring them.”
A Unified, Proven Safety Plan
The district’s safety protocols are built on two nationally recognized frameworks: the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), developed by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation, and Colorado’s Safe2Tell® program. Together, these systems provide clear, consistent guidelines for handling emergencies and empower students and community members to report safety concerns anonymously.
“Safety is critically important,” said Assistant Superintendent Bill Hesford. “We’re working with partners at all levels in Colorado and locally to make sure our students and staff are safe every day.”
SRP is an all-hazards approach to crisis situations that uses clear, common language for five actions—Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. These actions help students, staff, and first responders work in sync during an incident. Drills and training sessions throughout the year ensure that everyone knows their role, whether that means locking doors during a “Secure” event, sheltering from severe weather, or safely evacuating a building.
Empowering Students Through Safe2Tell®
Safe2Tell® offers students an anonymous way to report threatening behaviors or activities that could put someone at risk. Reports are taken seriously, investigated promptly, and protected by Colorado law to ensure the reporter’s identity remains confidential.
“Our practice is to assume things that are reported are true until it is proven they are not,” Whitmore said. “Our folks investigate and act on the things we hear.”
Preparedness in Action
In addition to SRP and Safe2Tell®, Bayfield’s safety strategy includes regular evacuation and lockdown drills, frequent safety team meetings, and close coordination with the Bayfield Police Department. School Resource Officer Ray Morlan plays an active role in maintaining a safe presence on campus.
This year, the district will also conduct tabletop scenario training and is planning a reunification exercise that will involve staff and community members.
“When threats come in, we do very thorough threat assessments to ensure we aren’t dealing with anybody who is a threat to themselves or others,” Whitmore explained.
Balancing Safety and Community Access
Because school facilities are taxpayer-supported, they remain open to community use. This sometimes presents challenges, but the district takes a proactive approach to monitoring campus activity.
“We secure the perimeter and make sure our doors are locked, and if there are strangers around school grounds, we don’t hesitate to go and talk to them,” Whitmore said.
Looking Ahead
The Board of Education will soon review the district’s three-year, state-mandated Emergency Operations Plan — a process that keeps the district’s safety strategies current and effective.
“We are serious about school safety, and hitting all of our benchmarks,” Hesford emphasized. “It’s about preparation, vigilance, and making sure that everyone — students, staff, and our community — knows we’re committed to protecting them.”
For more details on the Standard Response Protocol and Safe2Tell®, visit the School Safety page on the district website.
