Overview
Safe Schools. Strong Community. Kids First.
At Apache Junction Unified School District, the safety, and well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority. We are committed to creating a secure, supportive learning environment where every child feels safe, seen, and cared for.
We know that safety isn’t just about procedures, it’s about people, relationships, and preparation. That’s why our district takes a proactive, community-centered approach to school safety.
Our Commitment
At AJUSD, safety is everyone’s job—and we’re all in this together. By working closely with law enforcement, families, and our school communities, we are creating campuses where students can focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and becoming their best selves.
SRO Partnership with AJPD
All AJUSD schools are proud to partner with the Apache Junction Police Department to provide School Resource Officers (SROs) on our campuses. These highly trained officers:
- Build positive relationships with students and staff
- Support a safe and respectful school climate
- Assist with emergency response and crisis preparedness
- Educate students on safety, laws, and responsible choices
Our SROs are not just law enforcement, they’re mentors, educators, and trusted members of our school community.
Additional Safety Measures
AJUSD follows a comprehensive school safety plan that includes:
- Secure front office check-in procedures at all campuses
- Visitor sign-in and badge requirements
- Emergency drills (fire, lockdown, shelter-in-place, evacuation)
- Campus supervision during arrival, lunch, and dismissal
- Staff training in crisis response and student safety
- Collaboration with first responders and emergency services
Reporting Concerns
If you see something, say something. We encourage all students, staff, and families to report anything that feels unsafe, whether it’s a facility issue, emotional concern, or suspicious behavior.
Reports can be filed by contacting your school principal or counselor.
Emergency Preparedness & Safety Drills
Keeping students and staff safe means being prepared before an emergency occurs. AJUSD schools maintain emergency response plans and regularly practice safety procedures so students and staff know what to do in a variety of situations.
Drills are conducted in an age-appropriate manner with an emphasis on preparation, calm and clear direction. Depending on the situation, schools may use several different emergency response procedures.
Types of Drills
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A Shelter in Place is used when it is safer for students and staff to remain inside the building than to go outdoors. This may be necessary because of severe weather, hazardous materials or another environmental concern in or near the community.
During a Shelter in Place, students and staff remain safely indoors and follow instructions from school personnel. Depending on the circumstances, normal classroom activities may continue.
Arizona schools practice a Shelter in Place drill at least once each school year.
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A Lockdown is used when there is an immediate or potential safety threat on or near a school campus. During a lockdown, students and staff move to or remain in secured locations and follow established safety procedures until the situation is resolved.
Arizona schools conduct three lockdown drills each school year. At least one is conducted when students are outside their classrooms, such as during lunch, recess, passing periods or before or after school.
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An Evacuation is used when students and staff need to leave a building or area because remaining there may be unsafe. Fire alarms are the most familiar example, but evacuation procedures may also be used for other hazards.
Students and staff follow designated routes to safe locations, where school personnel account for students and await further instructions. Evacuation drills are conducted in accordance with applicable fire and safety requirements.
Other Emergency Situations
Not every emergency fits neatly into one category. Depending on the circumstances, AJUSD may modify its response, restrict access to a campus, move students to another location or take other precautions in coordination with law enforcement, fire departments and emergency response agencies.
School staff receive training on emergency procedures, including warning signals, evacuation routes, student accountability and their responsibilities during an emergency
Drills vs. Actual Emergencies
Safety drills are an important part of school preparedness. When appropriate, schools communicate that an activity is a drill so students and staff understand that there is not an actual emergency.
During a real emergency, our first priority is the immediate safety and accountability of students and staff. Families will receive information from AJUSD as soon as it is safe and appropriate to provide it.
We understand that families naturally want immediate information during an emergency. However, circumstances can change quickly, and releasing incomplete or unverified information can create additional safety concerns. AJUSD works with responding agencies to provide families with accurate, timely information while protecting students, staff and emergency operations.
What Families Should Do During a School Emergency
What Families Should Do During a School Emergency
If an emergency occurs at your child’s school:
- Watch for official AJUSD communications. Information will be shared through district communication channels as it becomes available.
- Do not come to the school unless instructed to do so. Additional traffic and people arriving on campus can interfere with emergency responders and established safety procedures.
- Keep your contact information current. Make sure your child’s school has your current phone number, email address and emergency contacts.
- Follow reunification instructions. If students must be relocated or released from another location, AJUSD will provide families with instructions about where to go and what identification may be required.
- Avoid sharing unverified information. During an emergency, information on social media can spread quickly and may be inaccurate. Please rely on official district and public-safety communications.
Regular practice helps make emergency procedures familiar so that, if they are ever needed, students and staff can respond quickly and safely.