Posted: March 26, 2025

Camas School District has adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a regionally unified approach to managing school safety. Developed by the nationally recognized I Love U Guys Foundation, the SRP has been successfully implemented in numerous school districts, demonstrating its effectiveness in ensuring students, staff, and first responders can act quickly and effectively during emergencies.

Unlike plans tailored to individual scenarios, the SRP emphasizes an all-hazards approach, preparing schools to respond to events ranging from severe weather and fires to intruders and other potential threats. The foundation of the SRP lies in its simplicity and universality. It uses five clear actions, each paired with concise directives:

  • Hold: Followed by the instruction “In your room or area,” used when hallways need to be cleared. Classes and activities inside the classroom continue as normal.
  • Secure: Followed by the instruction, “Get inside. Lock outside doors,” safeguarding people inside the building. Classes and activities inside the building continue as normal. 
  • Lockdown: Followed by the instruction, “Locks, lights, out of sight,” for threats inside the building. It is used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place. 
  • Evacuate: Followed by directions to move to a specific location inside or outside of the building, such as for fires or gas leaks.
  • Shelter: Used when specific protective actions are needed in response to environmental hazards such as severe weather events or earthquakes.

By standardizing these terms, the SRP ensures everyone—from students and teachers to first responders—speaks the same “safety language” during critical moments.

“As a district, we are committed to creating safe, supportive environments where students can thrive,” said Camas School District Superintendent John Anzalone. “The Standard Response Protocol gives us a common language and clear steps to follow during emergencies, strengthening our partnership with first responders and neighboring districts, and ensuring that everyone is prepared to protect and support our school community.”

The protocol isn’t just about emergency response—it’s about creating a predictable, understandable system that keeps everyone safe. By providing continuity of expectations throughout a student’s educational career, the SRP helps build a culture of preparedness and calm response.

Camas School District encourages families to familiarize themselves with SRP terminology and procedures, which are featured on a dedicated Student and Staff Safety webpage.