Safety & Security

Southeast Polk Community School District— Dedicated to Protecting Students & Faculty

As a District, we have agreed upon core values. Student safety is our number one priority. We take this very seriously and address it from many angles including:

  • The physical/structural design of our buildings
  • Our District Readiness and Emergency Management plan has been developed and vetted by local law enforcement as well as national experts
  • Our counseling and at-risk programming that helps to identify and address student needs early as they emerge
  • Our positive working relationship with local law enforcement including SRO’s on campus
  • The everyday policies and practices designed to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment

In order to sustain this safe learning environment, we all have a role. If you or your student see something out of the ordinary or concerning, say something to someone involved. Report things to your teacher, or principal, or local law enforcement officials.

Working collaboratively, we are all up to the task of keeping a safe learning environment at Southeast Polk. Together we can continue to keep the focus on student learning and growth.

Sincerely,
Dirk Halupnik, Ed.D

The Southeast Polk Community School District has several layers of Safety and Security personnel.

  • Safety and Security Committee, which includes members of SEP leadership and members of the local police departments and fire departments. The Committee provides several resources to our school buildings including the Crisis Response Manual which outlines procedures to handle a variety of unforeseen circumstances that impact the environment and/or well-being of students and staff.
    We conduct a 3-year cycle of staff safety training that includes face-to-face training with law enforcement, approved online training and building-specific training.
  • A Building Crisis Team in each building that serves a critical role in disseminating information to all staff and aiding families in times of need. Members of this team have specific roles within the building during any emergency situation. In addition to the 3 year training program, our staff is trained on all updates of the safety plan and drill procedures.
  • Security Resource Officers (SRO) are local police officers stationed in our high school and jr. high buildings every day, all day while school is in session. We also have police officers who periodically visit our elementary and Middle School buildings.
  • We encourage our staff and students if they “See Something, Say Something.” If something seems suspicious, we urge people to either tell a teacher, principal or the SRO. If there’s an emergency, call 911.

The safety of our students and staff is a top priority. We are committed to supporting and maintaining a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students at Southeast Polk.

All Southeast Polk School District school buildings are secured with multiple layers of security.

  • All exterior doors remain locked throughout the school day.
  • Designated entrances at each building whereby visitors are to enter during the school day.
  • Visitor registration system that enables each school building to screen all visitors against serious offender registries nationwide. 
  • Each school has a camera to screen visitors before entering the building. 

We are committed to continually improving and enhancing security procedures and features in our buildings across the district in order to protect students and staff at Southeast Polk. If a parent or student should have a question regarding an emergency situation procedure, they are encouraged to contact Joe Horton, Deputy Superintendent, at (515) 967-4294 or joseph.horton@southeastpolk.org.

SEP Stadium, Gym & Auditorium Guidelines

*Please note this is not an inclusive list of all the rules, but a general guideline.

Please note that all bags taken into the stadium are subject to search. We reserve the right to refuse entry. 

  • The main admission gate is located on the Northeast corner of the stadium by the Ram statue. Access to the stadium will be via the tunnel under Martha Miller Drive. For safety reasons, please do not walk across Martha Miller Drive to get from the High School parking areas to the stadium.
  • Fans are not permitted to exit and re-enter the stadium. There are no pass outs. If you leave the stadium, you must purchase another ticket to reenter.
  • No outside food or drink is permitted.
  • No shirt, no shoes, no entry.
  • Southeast Polk fans are to remain on the home side of the stadium.
  • Patrons holding an activities pass must present the physical pass for admittance, otherwise must pay the regular admission fee.
  • Spectators should not bring footballs or inflatables into the stadium.
  • Pets are NOT permitted at school events.
  • The CIML conference prohibits signs, banners, and artificial noisemakers (cowbells, airhorns, etc.).

For seating and parking maps, click here: New Stadium Information And Expectations-2023

  • No shirt, no shoes, no entry.
  • Patrons holding an activities pass must present the physical pass for admittance, otherwise must pay the regular admission fee.
  • The CIML conference prohibits signs, banners, and artificial noisemakers.
  • No food or drink is permitted.
  • No shirt, no shoes, no entry.
  • Patrons holding an activities pass must present the physical pass for admittance, otherwise must pay the regular admission fee.

Visitor Policy

Southeast Polk Community School District welcomes visitors and encourages all parents to actively participate in their children’s educational experience. To ensure we are able to maintain a safe learning environment, the district uses Raptor, a visitor management system, to screen all visitors and establish a consistent sign-in process across the district. 

All visitors (including parents and volunteers) must check-in at the main office and provide a valid state-issued ID (driver’s license). The system reads a visitor’s driver’s license or other approved identification and compares information to a national database of serious offenders (sex offenders, etc.). The system alerts building administrators if a match is found or prints a visitor’s sticker badge if no match is found. The sticker badge will identify the person as an approved visitor and include the date, time, and a picture of the visitor. Children who do not have a valid ID may be allowed to visit as long as they are accompanied at all times by an adult who has completed the ID process and been issued a badge.

Cancellations, Delays & Inclement Weather Alerts With Southeast Polk Schools.

The safety of our students and staff is always the deciding factor when it comes to Cancellations, Dismissals, and Closings. Monitoring approaching inclement weather, the Superintendent or his designee will make decisions on closing or delaying school based on information provided by the National Weather Service, the DOT, city and county officials, local law enforcement, meteorologists, and school staff personal inspection.

Announcements/notifications on delays, early dismissals or cancellations will be made through the news media, social media, and the district’s emergency notification system through Infinite Campus (voice call & text message).

The Superintendent’s decision is normally made no later than 5:30 a.m. to delay the beginning of the school day by two hours, or to cancel school.

If the decision is made to delay the beginning of the school day, conditions may change enough to warrant cancellation. The decision to cancel school following a decision to delay will usually be made by 6:30 a.m. and no later than 7:00 a.m.

The District’s decision for a late start will be based on current or approaching weather and road conditions. A late start will be used when information indicates improving road and weather conditions. Typically, the delay will be 2 hours.

The District’s decision for an early dismissal will be based on current or approaching weather and road conditions. During school hours, notifications of early dismissal will be made in each building using established building procedures.

The District’s decision for a cancellation will be based on current or approaching weather and road conditions.  A cancellation will be used when information indicates road and weather conditions jeopardize the safety of students and staff.  The make-up of canceled school hours may be completed at the end of the school year and will be determined by the SEP School Board.

Please be aware when cancellations are made, athletic and activity events later in the day will also be canceled. High school athletic and activity events later in the day may be held due to changing weather conditions. Facility rentals will be canceled if school is not held or dismissed early due to weather.

Kids Klub will open 2 hours later (8:30 a.m.) when there is a 2-hour late start.  If conditions change and warrant a school cancellation, parents will be informed to pick up their children within one hour of the notification. If there is early dismissal, Kids Klub will remain open, parents will be notified to pick up students as soon as possible, and Kids Klub will close at 5:00 p.m.

Every effort will be made to keep the district’s administration office open during inclement weather.

  Two Hour Delay Cancellation
Little Rams Preschool AM Canceled Canceled
Kids Klub (Before/After) Opens 2 hours later Closed
High School Activities AM activities canceled Activities canceled pending ongoing weather conditions.
Junior High Activities AM activities canceled Activities canceled
Middle School Activities AM activities canceled Activities canceled
Elementary Activities AM activities canceled Activities canceled

Tune into the following radio, TV stations, and online sites for current school delays or cancellations:

Radio:
WHO (1040AM)
KISS (107.5FM)
The Bus (100.3FM)
KJJY (92.5FM)
KGGO (94.9FM)
The Hawk (97.3FM)
ALT (1063AM)
KXNO (1460AM)

Des Moines Register

District website: www.southeastpolk.org 

District Facebook: facebook.com/SEPSchools

Television:
WOI (Channel 5)
KCCI (Channel 8)
WHO (Channel 13)
KDSM FX (Channel 17)
KCWI (Channel 23)