Phoenix Academy

Reaffirming our commitment to safety and security

Dear SDoL Family,

As we begin the 2025-2026 school year, we want to take a moment to reaffirm our ongoing commitment to school safety.

We maintain deep partnerships with first responders, including local law enforcement andfire personnel, who assist us in regularly conducting assessments of our schools andrecommending enhancements in alignment with national school safety standards. We conduct regular fire, security, severe weather, and bus evacuation drills to maintain a high standard of emergency preparedness.

Our partnership includes close working relationships with police departments that have jurisdiction where our schools are located, including members of the Lancaster Bureau of Police and the Lancaster Township Police. School Resource Officers and School SecurityOfficers maintain offices on-site in each of our middle schools and both high school buildings, and they are regular visitors to our elementary schools and other programs as well. They help to promote safety and foster positive relationships between law enforcement and youth.

The School District of Lancaster also partners with Safe Kids, Inc., a team of law enforcement, education, and mental health experts who have developed a curriculum that teaches effective responses to threats in schools. The program is called “H.E.R.O.,” which stands for “Hide-Escape-Run-Overcome.”

Through H.E.R.O., students learn safe-thinking skills and empowerment strategies through age-appropriate activities, stories, classroom discussions, journaling, and student-family discussions. They will also participate in school security drills that meet and exceed state safety mandates. You can learn more about the H.E.R.O. program by visiting www.SafeKidsInc.com.

The H.E.R.O. program is designed to keep students safe by empowering them in a responsible manner. However, if you have any reservations about your child participating in the program, please contact your school’s principal.

The district has also implemented a new standard response protocol, “I Love U Guys,” which is a tool that school leaders, administrators, and staff can use to manage critical situations and crises. H.E.R.O. and the I Love U Guys standard response protocol complement each other. More information can be learned by visiting www.iloveuguys.org.

We value the safety of the children in our care above all else. Thank you for yourcooperation and support in ensuring a safe learning environment in our schools and ourcommunity.

Sincerely,

Christopher Lopez
Assistant Superintendent

Christopher Krokos
Coordinator of School Safety