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Dodge City Public Schools

October 20, 2026

DCPS Highlights Comprehensive Safety Enhancements in Recognition of Safe Schools Week

Photo of David Miller, Safety Security Director in white shirt and black suit jacket - very professional

DODGE CITY, Kan. — In recognition of America’s Safe Schools Week, Dodge City Public Schools (USD 443) is highlighting significant security upgrades, streamlined safety protocols, and enhanced cross-departmental collaboration implemented across the district over the past year.

Led by the district’s Safety & Security leadership—in close partnership with local law enforcement and state officials—the initiatives aim to create a secure, supportive environment where students can focus on learning and staff can teach with confidence.

“Safety and security is a constant, ongoing effort,” said the Director of Safety & Security for USD 443. “Our goal is to work effectively in the background to ensure a secure environment where students can focus on academics and positive social interactions. Communication and collaboration are key: administrators, certified staff, classified staff, and partner agencies are all part of one team working toward a common goal.”

Key safety initiatives and updates established across USD 443 include:

  • Upgraded Visitor Management & Threat Alert Systems: USD 443 implemented the self-initiated Raptor Visitor Management System, integrated with the national sex offender registry and district restriction lists. Additionally, a standardized internal ALERT protocol now immediately notifies campus administration, Security Officers, and School Resource Officers (SROs) when individuals are trespassed or restricted from district grounds.

  • Streamlined Emergency Training: Transitioning to the simplified, practical Run, Hide, Fight framework in coordination with the Dodge City Police Department (DCPD) for annual staff emergency response training.

  • Enhanced Access Control & Identity Verification: New physical access measures include strict front-door check-ins for all non-school staff, vendors, and contractors, along with standardized, color-coded ID badges for easy identification of staff, first responders, and guests.

  • Trauma-Informed Student Support (“Handle With Care”): Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Dodge City Police Department, school teams receive confidential notifications when a student experiences trauma outside of school, allowing staff to offer immediate supportive care upon their return.

  • Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (BTAM): Increased multi-agency collaboration following Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) training, bringing together administrators, counselors, SROs, and safety personnel to identify and intervene on potential concerns early.

  • Facility & Safety Audits: Structural modifications—such as bollards and locked vestibules at the District Office, metal detectors for Board of Education meetings, and comprehensive facility threat assessments conducted in partnership with KSDE—are strengthening physical security across all district sites.

  • Community Alignment: Uniformly timed school zone speeds coordinated with the City of Dodge City to reduce driver confusion and enhance enforcement, alongside updated compliance and safety signage across all campus grounds.

USD 443 continues to foster a comprehensive culture of safety by breaking down departmental silos and uniting administration, law enforcement, security personnel, and mental health providers into a single cohesive support system.

For more information about USD 443 safety initiatives, visit Link to the safety security tab on the district website.