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Safety & Security

 

Stanley Valles
Director of School and Community Safety
E: svalles@somsd.k12.nj.us
P:  (973) 762-5600 ext. 8006

The safety of our students and staff is always the highest priority for the South Orange Maplewood School District.  We coordinate our approach to school safety with the Police and Fire Departments of South Orange and Maplewood.  Security procedures are established for all of the schools – schools are locked, unauthorized visitors are prohibited, cameras monitor all who enter our buildings, and each school has a crisis management team.  We thoroughly review, evaluate, and update safety practices and security plans on a routine basis.

In addition, we conduct state-mandated emergency drills – both a fire drill, and a security drill – at each school every month.  Security drills include non-fire evacuations and lockdown situations. We practice a different security drill each month, repeating them as necessary, to ensure that each security drill is practiced at least twice a year and that students and staff know what to do to protect themselves in various situations.  After each safety drill, we closely monitor our students’ reactions, and we evaluate our procedures to seamlessly blend these exercises into our standard safety practices.

Guidelines on Visiting Schools

All visitors are reminded to follow the South Orange & Maplewood School District’s established safety and security protocols. These guidelines help ensure the well-being of students, staff, and the broader school community.

General Visitor Procedures

  • All visitors must use the school’s main entrance when entering and exiting.
  • Entry is by appointment only. Exceptions may be made for emergencies.
  • Visitors must present valid photo ID to security and sign in upon arrival.
  • A visitor pass must be worn at all times and returned when exiting the building. Passes should be numbered and accounted for daily.
  • Unescorted access is not permitted. Visitors must remain in designated areas or be accompanied by staff at all times.

Arrival Communication

Parents and guardians are encouraged to call ahead to notify the Main Office of their expected visit. Please provide:

  • Visitor’s name
  • Student’s name
  • Reason for the visit
  • Estimated time of arrival

Additional Safety Considerations

  • Food delivery personnel (e.g., DoorDash, Grubhub) are not permitted inside school buildings. Staff must meet delivery drivers outside the main entrance.
  • During entry, please do not hold the door for others. All visitors must be buzzed in by staff or security.
  • Visitor parking spaces are reserved for visitors only and should not be used by staff.

Graduation Season & Alumni Visits
While we appreciate alumni interest in visiting their former schools, we kindly ask that such visits do not occur during school hours.

We thank you for your cooperation and commitment to keeping our school communities safe. For any questions or concerns regarding visitor procedures, please contact your school’s Main Office or the District Security Team.