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Welcome to the Office of Safety!
Here at Methacton School District, we address safety with a multi-faceted approach. Our efforts include:
- The Methacton Administration works with County Emergency Management Services and local law enforcement to review its emergency procedures, conduct safety audits, and ensure we consider best practices in our emergency preparedness and response methods. This is a continuous process.
- Each school’s emergency response team meets every other month to review, consider, and recommend ways of improving safety on campuses for our students and staff.
- The district’s strategic plan leverages our teachers and administrators working together to develop supports with a focus on the “Whole Child.” While listed as a curriculum and instruction matter within the strategic plan, the Whole Child focus considers the well-being of our children, including their social, emotional, and mental health.
- District staff are diligent in their efforts to form positive relationships with students that foster the communication and approachability necessary to support students and families in need.
- School counseling and nursing staff are trained in youth mental health first aid. The district has also provided free community mental health awareness trainings.
- We have begun to expand the Student Assistance Program (SAP) training to the elementary levels. Used primarily in secondary schools, SAP teams consisting of teachers, administrators, and outside mental health professionals meet to monitor and assist students and families in a variety of ways. The training that accompanies SAP helps our staff recognize early warning signs associated with drug, alcohol, and mental health concerns. This allows staff to be proactive in their support, and prepares them to communicate concerns to school personnel so that the appropriate community resources can be deployed. Click to learn more about the SAP process, or how to make a referral.
- Our partnership with Central Behavioral Health for four mental health specialists provides school based individual and group sessions with students with emotional support needs. In addition, Central provides professional development and consultation with Methacton staff.
- We have updated the physical security at several of our schools to increase safety with the use of technology, door locking mechanisms, and protocols.
- Families will find a number of resources for talking to their children on our pupil services department website here.
While the district has these and other emergency response procedures in place, it is understandable that school safety is at the front of parent’s minds and may generate questions. While most of our families know that we regularly conduct fire and weather drills, they may not know that we also conduct regular intruder drills. In addition, the district developed a Safety Awareness Presentation that can be found here https://youtu.be/JEoHYL7yvF4. This is designed to communicate a common understanding of safety terminology and the role we play in an emergency.
More than 4,000 students, along with many hundreds more staff walk through our doors each day. We take our responsibility to maintain a safe and secure learning environment seriously.
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Our School Resource Officers
Jose Valdes, School Officer
jvaldes@methacton.orgSchool Officer Jose "Joe" Valdes began his service as a School Officer in the Methacton School District during the 2017-2018 school year.
Officer Valdes is a retired Philadelphia Police Officer with over 24 years of experience. He retired as a Police Detective and has an extensive background investigating hate crimes, civil rights violations, arson, and gang violence. Throughout his career he has exhibited a passion for mentoring youth at risk. Additionally, Joe has also been an instructor at the Philadelphia Police Academy during his career.
Thomas Momme, School Officer
tmomme@methacton.orgSchool Officer Thomas Momme is a 32-year veteran of the Lower Providence Township Police Department, retiring in 2015 at the rank of corporal. During his time with the police department, Officer Momme was a three-term President of the Montgomery County Fraternal Order of Police.
He is a dedicated volunteer, serving as a current member of both the Jefferson and Lower Providence fire departments.
Since retiring, Officer Momme has worked for US Security Care as a School Police Officer (SPO) at The Jack Barrack Hebrew Academy in Radnor, Pennsylvania. He has also worked on a security assignment at the Upper Merion School District.
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Parent-Student Reunification
Parent-Student Reunification
Circumstances may occur at school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. This process is known as reunification and it may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, hazmat incident or a crisis at the school. Parent/student reunification is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved. Reunification may occur at a different location than the school your student attends.
When our reunification plan is implemented, you will be notified by our SchoolMessenger announcement system. It is very important that we have your correct phone numbers and contact information on the emergency form that you complete at the beginning of the school year.
If a parent/student reunification is implemented, there are some expectations that parents or guardians should be aware of:
- Be sure to follow all directions provided in the SchoolMessenger notification provided by the district.
- When driving to the reunification site, please pay close attention to signs indicating where you will go to park and check in.
- At the parent check-in area, you will be asked to complete a form listing the name of your student and your identity. For accountability purposes, one form is required for each student.
- Bring identification. All individuals picking up students must be positively identified by our staff by providing valid identification. Unless a person’s name is on our list as having permission to pick up your student, we will not release your student to them.
- Acceptable forms of ID are any state issued driver’s license, a valid Armed Forces ID card containing the holder’s photo or a valid passport containing the holder’s photo.
- Do not call the schools for updates and information. We will need our phone lines for emergency communications.
- Please be patient. Reunification is a process that protects both the safety of the student and provides for an accountable change of custody from the school to a recognized custodial parent or guardian.
Student safety is one of the primary concerns of the Methacton School District. School authorities will do everything possible to care for each student while he/she is under district supervision. It is critical that students do not have directions from parents/guardians that are contrary to the district’s protocol and procedures during an emergency. We appreciate your support and assistance in this important matter. Please contact your building principal if you have any questions or concerns.
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Parent Preparedness
Date: 11/09/2016Location: High School LGIGoal: Build a common terminology and understanding of school safety between the district and community.Presenters:Dr. Troy Sosnovik - Director of Technology, Safety, and Child AccountingDr. Aaron Roberts - Principal, Arrowhead ElementaryMr. Ryan Creedan - Assistant Principal, Arcola Intermediate SchoolMr. Steve Beck - Montgomery County School Safety Coordinator -
Local Emergency Services
Below are links to local township, emergency management and law enforcement agencies. These organizations stand ready to support our community in the event of an emergency.Montgomery County Emergency Alert SystemThis system is administered by the Montgomery County PA Department of Public SafetyFamily Emergency Plan: http://www.readypa.org/Worcester Township: http://worcestertwp.comWorcester Fire Company: http://worcesterfd.comLower Providence Township: https://www.lowerprovidence.org/administrationLower Providence Township Police: https://www.lowerprovidence.org/police-departmentPennsylvania State Police: https://www.psp.pa.govLower Providence Fire Company: http://lpfire.com/ -
Limerick Emergency Planning
Limerick Emergency Planning - Exelon Nuclear Energy PlantIf your child’s school is in session at the time evacuation is recommended, children attending schools located within the emergency panning zone will be transported to Norristown High School. They will remain under supervision until picked up by parents or guardians. Please refer to the parent reunification guidelines on this website. These host schools have been planned to coincide with main evacuation routes. Children whose homes are inside the emergency planning zone, but who attend school outside the emergency planning zone, will not be sent home if an evacuation is recommended. They will remain at the school under supervision until picked up by parents or guardians. See the “County-specific School Information” within this brochure or contact school officials for more information.For more information about the plant, nuclear energy and other resources, please visit the Exelon website at http://www.exeloncorp.com/limerick. -
Safe2Say Something
Submit an Anonymous Tip
- Phone: 1-844-Saf2Say
- Website: https://www.safe2saypa.org/tip/
- Download App: https://www.safe2saypa.org/download/
What is “Safe2Say Something” (S2SS):
The S2SS anonymous reporting system is a mandated program under PA state law / Act 44, teaches students, teachers, and administrators how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and Say Something to a trusted adult OR use its anonymous reporting systemOverview and Resources
- Message from the Superintendent
- Official S2SS Website
- S2SS Parent Brochure
- S2SS Program Overview
- S2SS Student Training - Grades 5th through 12th