Safety and Security

Safety is the top priority at the Gravette School District. We have implemented a comprehensive system that includes trained staff, protocols, programs, and policies to keep students and staff safe before, during, and after school.

david

David Cadle

Safety and Security Coordinator

Prior to working for Gravette School District, David retired from the U.S. Forest Service where he was a Federal Law Enforcement Officer for over 25 years.  His last duty station was in the Ouachita National Forest.  David has worked on details all over the nation dealing with catastrophic wildfires, hurricanes, drug eradication, and wildlife cases.  As a LEO with the Forest Service, his job was to protect the visitors, employees, and natural resources within the jurisdiction of the National Forest System. David is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center located in Glynco, GA, a graduate of a SWAT school, a graduate of ALERT, CSSO, and numerous other courses and experiences that deal with the safety and security of Government buildings.  He has a Bachelor's degree from Arkansas Tech University and was raised in Russellville, Arkansas. 

Our Mission

Gravette School District’s mission is to ensure success for ALL students.  Working collaboratively with a deeply invested community, ALL students will: Thrive in a student-centered environment where they know we care. Learn and grow in positive, safe, and supportive schools. Be empowered and equipped to achieve excellence in all things. Be celebrated.

We support our school leaders in promoting the safety of students and staff. By taking a holistic approach to safety, schools proactively provides for physical and emotional safety and creates a culture that aims to build trusting relationships. School safety plays a critical role in positive youth development and academic success.

Safety is Everyone's Responsibility

The safety of our students and staff is reliant on building trusted partnerships with parents, students and our community. We ask everyone, "if you see something, SAY SOMETHING". You can reach out to your child's building Principal, or directly report it to our SROs. If it is an emergency, please call 911.

School Safety Framework

When GSD looks at safety, it is not just about physical safety. We want students to feel welcome and emotionally safe. They must have relational trust in caring adults at the school, who they have confidence will be there for them if they need something, or if they need to share important information about a situation.

GSD looks at school safety holistically. All three of these components must be in place in order to have a school where students and staff can feel safe. And it takes everyone’s active participation to ensure that these components are in place. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

first aide kit

Physical Safety

All schools have a safety plan that determines how they  will keep their school physically safe.

Only authorized individuals are able to enter the schools. To support in the access control plan, all of our campuses have integrated safety software that will track and produce reports for individuals who are entering the schools. We implement a rigorous background check policy to ensure that the adults supporting schools have been appropriately vetted to be deemed safe to be working with students. In addition, both internal and external doors remained locked at all times in every building. This previous quarter we achieved a 99% locked door rate for the district.

parent and child

Emotional Safety

Teachers, staff, and administrators all work towards the goal of ensuring that there is a welcoming environment for students so they view their school as a sanctuary, enabling them to focus on learning and academic achievement.

Students also play a role in supporting their peers in providing for an emotionally-safe environment.

hands

Relational Trust

It is our goal to ensure that every student has at least one trusted adult that they can go to if they need additional support.

School Resource Officers and Commissioned School Safety Officers are explicitly trained to support schools in providing this welcoming environment where they can build healthy and appropriate relationships with students while also maintaining the physical safety of the building. There are multiple SRO and CSSO's assigned to each campus.

Safety Measures at Every School

  • District Wide Safety and Security Coordinator with over 25 years experience (David Cadle - Bio above)

  • School-specific safety protocol plans (standard operating procedures)

  • School-specific emergency response plans

  • Professionally trained SROs

  • Professionally trained CSSOs (certified safety and security officers)

  • Compliance with annual safety drills requirements

  • Visitor Management System - RAPTOR

  • Internal and External Doors Locked

  • Camera/Surveillance System

  • New state of the art locks on EACH classroom door that holds students

    We provide additional supports for students that may be gong through extra challenges. Through interventions, counseling and programming, students and their families can access custom supports to meet their specific, individual needs.

Safety Emergency Preparedness

Our top priority is to provide safe spaces for our children to learn and educators to teach. GSD takes proactive steps in order to prevent serious incidents from happening in the first place.

Although emergencies during the school day are extremely rare, we have established clear emergency protocols and communication procedures so all students and staff know how to quickly and confidently make their way to safety in the event of an emergency.

While schools across the district have worked to build a culture of safety to prevent serious incidents, in the event of an emergency, these steps will help schools to be prepared to respond effectively.

Learn more

FAQs