As we welcome students and staff back for the 2025-2026 school year, we want to provide an overview of the safety procedures in place across our district. Please take a moment to read the safety overview below. You can also watch a video on our Report Safety & Bullying web page.

Matt Liston serves as the district’s Safety and Security Officer. He brings 28 years of experience with the Derby Police Department, was the first School Resource Officer (SRO) for Derby Public Schools in 1997, and later led the unit from 2005 until retiring in 2019. Mr. Liston also serves as an instructor with the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).

District-Wide Safety Measures
Safety is our top priority. Every year, we conduct drills, update procedures and partner closely with law enforcement to maintain a secure environment. All schools are equipped with storm shelters, intruder locks, enhanced security cameras and are Americans with Disabilities (ADA) accessible. Each building has a secured access vestibule, giving office staff control over visitor entry. We use the SafeVisitor system—a digital visitor management platform—to enhance school entrance security, simplify check-in and track visitors for emergency accountability. If you plan to visit our schools, please look this over and pre-register for quicker check-in.

Crisis Response Protocols
We follow the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a simplified framework based on five key actions: Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter and Hold. This protocol enables staff, students and first responders to act swiftly in emergencies. Parents/guardians are notified any time a school activates one of these actions, whether for a drill or a real event. View the SRP Parent Reference Guide.

Each school has a Building Crisis Team that meets regularly to address safety topics. At the district level, our Crisis Team includes school leaders and community partners such as the Derby Police and Fire Departments, Sedgwick County Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Office and McConnell Air Force Base. This team advises and supports our training and planning efforts.

School Resource Officers (SROs)
The Derby Police Department provides SROs for all Derby elementary and middle schools, as well as Derby High School. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office assigns an SRO to Cooper, Oaklawn and Wineteer Elementary schools. SROs not only enforce laws but also mentor students and build relationships. They collaborate with the district to create and implement safety plans. You can contact SROs through their school or the Police Department. Meet our SROs and view contact information.

Reporting Safety Concerns
We offer several anonymous tip lines to report safety concerns. The Kansas School Safety Hotline (1-877-626-8203) operates 24/7 and forwards concerns to the proper authorities. We also use the See Something Say Something program, allowing tips via website, P3 app or phone. This service is funded by Crime Stoppers of Wichita and Sedgwick County. 

Bullying Prevention
Our commitment to a safe, supportive environment includes a strong focus on bullying prevention. An essential part of that commitment is addressing bullying with intentionality and urgency by reducing its occurrence, encouraging prompt reporting and ensuring appropriate responses when it does happen. 

How Families Can Help:

• Talk Often: Ask your child about their day using open-ended questions.
• Stay Alert: Watch for mood, behavior or academic changes that might signal issues.
• Know How to Report: Review reporting options, including trusted adults or See Something, Say Something/P3 App.
• Model Respect: Demonstrate kind, respectful interactions.
• Partner with Us: Contact teachers, counselors or principals with any concerns.

Vape Prevention and Community Involvement
We continue vape prevention efforts through vape detectors in secondary school restrooms and an education unit for students in grades 5–11. Our VapeEducate program offers suspended students and families an educational option to reduce suspension length. 

We are also recruiting interested volunteers to help support a “Panther Watch” program at Derby High School and both middle schools. Volunteers are needed to help support our learning environment at Derby Middle School, Derby North Middle School and Derby High School to greet students as they enter school, monitor hallways, make connections with students, and help promote a safe and supportive environment. 

Staff Training and Professional Development
We have expanded training in Managing Aggressive Behavior (MAB), which emphasizes de-escalation and crisis intervention strategies. These methods aim to prevent aggressive incidents and respond effectively when they occur, all while maintaining dignity, promoting healing and encouraging positive behavior. District-wide, all staff are training on Character Strong, a social-emotional learning curriculum, designed to build social and emotional skills, develop character and strengthen educator-student relationships. Character Strong is more than a set of lessons - it is a partnership between schools and families to create a place where students feel like they belong and learn skills that will help them be the best they can be. This curriculum has three main goals for students: Be Kind, Be Strong and Be Well. 

If you have safety questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Matt Liston by phone (316) 788-8425, at mliston@usd260.com or visit www.derbyschools.com/safetyoverview.