At Richneck Elementary, the school day continued as normal for nearly two hours even though multiple people believed a student had a gun.
One student even reported seeing the weapon on the playground. 

Was this a failure of communication, policy, engagement, or all three? 

Not every fix needs to be complicated.
If this was a breakdown in communication, then we just need a clear, simple, shared phrase such as Safety Pause that ensures an appropriate pause is taken so we can assess and determine if we’re truly looking at a threat.

A Safety Pause is not a lockdown or a lockout. 

It means that everyone involved in the concern has no other focus until the issue is fully addressed. It’s the right ordering of priorities and the proper mindset. It means that you work the problem until you know exactly what you’re dealing with and nothing else! 

At Richneck Elementary, a staff member who was instrumental in engaging with the student, updating leadership, and helping the reporting teacher was pulled away from the situation to prepare for an upcoming event. 

The student had not been physically searched.
A teacher reported that the student would not take his hand out of his pocket. A neighboring teacher warned that one of her students was adamant about seeing a gun. And still the one person who seemed to be leading the response was reassigned to something else. 

A Safety Pause prevents that kind of mistake. 

It reminds everyone what matters most, provides structure to your safety efforts, and keeps key people focused on what truly needs attention. 

We don’t need to add complexity that makes our jobs harder. But we do need to create habits that protect us from overlooking what’s right in front of us. That’s the value of adopting a Safety Pause. 

Safety Pause Steps: 

1. Initiation
Staff, teacher, leader, parent — anyone can initiate a Safety Pause. “I need a Safety Pause.” “Would you please come to my classroom? I need a Safety Pause.” “Safety Pause in the lunchroom.” 

2. Response
Key leaders focus completely on the concern and quickly begin assessment. 

3. Verification
Rapidly triage the situation. Assess threat credibility, source reliability, and immediate danger. Then verify the next right step. 

4. Resolution
If the threat is credible, escalate as needed. If the threat is not credible, the leader communicates that the day can safely continue. Debrief later with the individuals involved. 

If you like this approach, here is a sample script to send to staff:

Leadership Reminder

The things that matter the most should never be at the mercy of the things that matter the least. Goethe said it, but we have to live it. 

The best way for a Safety Pause to take hold is to model it.
Use the phrase yourself. Remind your staff to use it. Respond immediately when it’s used. Take it seriously and follow the steps. 

A safety pause is a system safeguard but also a great good.
If you use this you will prevent tragedies but also build trust, encourage communication, and normalize safety over routines. This will make your school safe and your staff feel loved.