< Handbook Overview

All schools within the Roosevelt School District have open and closing times during which students and visitors can be on campus. To emphasize the importance of student safety and accountability, it is imperative to become familiar with your child’s arrival and dismissal times and practices.

We strongly encourage parents and legal guardians to schedule a morning drop-off time so that your child has sufficient time to eat breakfast and get organized before the school day begins. As we aim to ensure student safety, please do not drop off students before campus opens or at a time or location where there is no staff supervision.

To ensure appropriate supervision, students must be picked up from school within 15 minutes of the dismissal time. Walkers are encouraged to walk straight home. Approved exceptions may occur for students to be on school grounds only during specific events, including but not limited to tutoring, scheduled conferences, sports, etc.

Roosevelt School District takes pride in serving the community through safe and supportive student transportation. Students should be aware that riding the school bus is a privilege and are expected to respect the bus driver and rules at all times. School bus routes are accessible on our website or by calling the school office.

Students should arrive at their assigned bus stop 5-10 minutes early. While waiting for the bus, students are reminded to remain on the sidewalk or off the street and to be respectful to each other and their neighborhood. In addition, students should follow the bus driver's directions at all times, including boarding and unloading from the bus. The district is unable to provide supervision at bus stops. Families are encouraged to wait at the bus stop with their children.

The district discourages using ride-share services, such as Uber or Lyft, for student transportation. For the safety of the students, students will not be released to ride-share services at dismissal time unless approved by the principal. This does not apply when a district-contracted service is used to transport students with exceptional needs or students receiving transportation services through McKinney-Vento.

The Child Nutrition Services Department plays an essential role in your student’s education by providing access to healthy, well-balanced meals to all students free of charge. All students in the Roosevelt School District are served breakfast and lunch for free, regardless of income. The Child Nutrition Services Department strives to provide a positive experience for all customers by serving safe, nutritious, quality meals while encouraging students to develop life-long skills and knowledge to make healthy food choices. Special diet requests can be turned in to your school nurse. Menus can be accessed on the district website. Child Nutrition Services is hiring for kitchen assistants and other positions throughout the year. Check out the district website for open positions and to apply. For more information, please call 602-243-4814.

Your school's health office staff's mission is to keep students healthy and in school. The following information is vital for all families to review.

Student safety is always the top priority at all Roosevelt School District schools. Schools conduct regular safety drills, including fire and lockdown drills, to ensure that all students and staff know how to respond in an emergency. In addition, every school has a detailed Emergency Response Plan that is updated annually. All staff are trained on the details of these plans.

Download a Copy of the Standard Response Protocol in English and Spanish.

Roosevelt School District has a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that addresses many school crises. Administrators and staff at each school have been trained to conduct drills for each type of emergency—with and without students present. Additionally, the District regularly reviews the safety protocols to ensure they are up-to-date and thorough.

Each school site conducts regular fire and lockdown drills with students and staff members throughout the school year.

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. In the event of a school lockdown, all doors will be secured, and students and staff will follow established safety protocols. During a lockdown, no one will be allowed to enter or leave the school until authorities determine it is safe.

Lockdowns may be initiated due to potential threats inside or outside the school, including law enforcement activity in the surrounding area. Our staff has been trained in emergency response procedures, including active shooter situations, to ensure they are prepared to act quickly and effectively to protect students.

Parents and visitors will not be allowed on campus during a lockdown.

As a parent or guardian of a child in the Roosevelt School District, you are an essential partner to the safety team. When lockdowns are initiated, parents who have signed up to receive district and school communications will be notified of the event via email, phone call, and/or text. The district also uses the Roosevelt School District app to communicate with families.

We understand that receiving a lockdown notification can be stress-inducing. Please keep the following information in mind: The school district will release information about the lockdown as soon as it becomes available. At times, we realize that it may seem as if the information is not forthcoming or not being released quickly. During an emergency such as a lockdown, the district actively works with the crisis teams to obtain and confirm accurate information. The District is cautious about the information that is released; therefore, it may take time to share the facts of the situation. We appreciate the patience of our community as we carry out due diligence in information-gathering and sharing.

During a lockdown, parents and visitors cannot access the campus. Emergency responders and school district employees will focus on the needs of students and staff. Unexpected arrivals by parents can potentially exacerbate an already tense situation.

In a crisis, the school’s front office may not answer the phone as their primary concern is ensuring the safety of students and staff on-site and keeping lines of communication open with the crisis team. The school or district will share information and updates with parents immediately. The school may request that your child reach out to you to give you an update as well. It is often helpful to follow the district and school social media platforms and download the Roosevelt School District app, as information will be shared in these ways.

Watch for any lingering signs of stress in your child over the following days and weeks. Signs that your child may be stressed or have anxiety about the situation may include lack of appetite, difficulty sleeping, desire to stay home, etc. Talk to your child about the event, and contact your school to learn what resources and services are available.

An Evacuation (either from one room/building on-site to another or to an alternate location off-site) may be used for incidents such as gas leaks, power outages, bomb threats, and fire.

In the event of an off-site evacuation, the district will implement its Reunification Plan, and families will receive communication from the school district advising them of the location and area in which they can pick up their child.

Proper identification will be required upon parent pick-up to ensure a child’s safety. Please note that the Emergency Operations Plan includes specific guidelines for relocating students with special needs and non-English-speaking students.

It is important to ensure that your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) is up-to-date for communication purposes. Parents will use this information to notify them during a school crisis. When you need to change your information, contact the front office of your child’s school.

Information regarding the emergency will be shared via robocall and/or text. The district also uses the Roosevelt School District app to communicate with families. Updates will be given as information becomes available.

Please note that the school may not answer the phone during a school crisis. The staff’s top priority during crises is ensuring everyone’s safety on campus. Once verified, the district’s communication team will share information with families.

Depending on the type of crisis, students may be asked to text their parents to let them know they are safe. In some crises, students will not be allowed to use their phones.