Safety and Security

Protecting What’s Important

The safety and well-being of our students and staff continue to be a primary focus in the Johnston Community School District. We are constantly looking for ways to improve safety for our students and staff.

In light of recent incidents of school violence across the nation, the Governor announced in 2022 that each school building in Iowa be provided $50,000 for safety updates. Here in Johnston, we have received those funds and are in the process of spending them to enhance our security features within the district.

The Johnston Community School District has been working with law enforcement since summer 2022 to evaluate our buildings and safety procedures and look for ways to enhance our security features. While our Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is intentionally kept confidential, here’s what we can share with you: 

• Our plan was reviewed by a safety expert and received high marks. 
• District-level and building-level crisis teams are meeting on a regular basis.
• Drills are conducted on a regular basis at each school building.
• Each facility recently had a safety audit conducted by our Johnston Police Department and security experts.
• Recommendations for security upgrades are underway and will be made to the school board.

In addition, since the 2022-2023 school year, all JCSD staff members rotate between a required 2-hour safety training and a virtual training for the purpose of learning about what to do in any type of active intruder situation.

Safety and security is more than planning for emergency situations. Please use the sub-page navigation below or on the right hand side of the web page to view our practices on visiting school buildings, crisis management, inclement weather, and our School Resource Officer program.