In the event of a school emergency or lockdown, we will communicate about what is happening just as soon as we are able to confirm the information from school officials, law enforcement or emergency responders.

Our goal is to provide credible, accurate and useful information to the public as soon as possible. Please be aware that information received from sources other than the school administrator or Coeur d'Alene Public Schools may be inaccurate or outdated.

Look for updates on the District Facebook page (@cdaschools) and Twitter feed (@cdaschools). We also may post an onscreen alert on our website.

We also communicate by sending messages directly to the parents and guardians of our students. This may include emergency text messages (SMS short code 549-68) or non-emergency text messages (SMS code 606-80), as well as email. Please make sure your emergency contact information is up to date in your child's Skyward account; the number listed in the No. 3 phone contact needs to be your cell number. (T-Mobile customers may need to contact the wireless carrier to opt in to receive bulk text messages.) 

We will provide updates to local news media as well, but emergency situations can change rapidly. When multiple agencies are involved, communication is coordinated through a lead agency, which may cause a delay in notification.

Please help us control the spread of rumors and unconfirmed details. Information shared by others on social media may be inaccurate and could prove harmful.

As tempting as it may be to rush to the scene of a school emergency, our partners in law enforcement advise that this can seriously complicate their efforts to secure the scene and confront any threats. Showing up to the school may slow the response of emergency vehicles, and could distract police from ensuring the school is secure. You could put yourself or others in danger. We will communicate with you about how and when to reunite with your child. The reunification site may not be at the school. 

Also, please refrain from calling the school while an emergency or lockdown is in progress. The school staff will be busy working with law enforcement to secure the school and make sure everyone is safe. Please do not tie up phone lines at this critical time.

If you get a call or text from your student, help them remain calm. Remind your student that school staff knows what to do in an emergency situation and will work to keep everyone safe. Your children are safest if their phones remain silent during a threat. Police advise all people in a lockdown to stay off their phones.

Emergency Alert System

Have you and your family members signed up for emergency text alerts from our district? 

We've Made It Even Easier To Sign Up!

If you have a student enrolled in one of our schools, take a moment to ensure you have opted-in for text alerts. To be signed up in our new system, you would have opted-in sometime in the last 10 months.

Currently, these alerts are used during the school year to notify you quickly in the event of any emergency or time-sensitive situation.

To Opt-In: Send your cell number and student's school(s) by clicking here to use our contact form or call 208-664-8241 x10009.

That's it! Thank you for keeping your information up to date to help us stay connected!  

Are You A Community Member, Local Business Or School Partner?  

Now you can sign up for text alert as well! Click the link below to add your cell and/or email to receive "community alerts" for snow day messages, updates on issues that may affect traffic or safety in your neighborhood. You can select your alerts by school:

• Mass Notification

Be familiar with the terms used in emergency situations:

Safety hold: Used to secure the building from a potential threat outside the building, such as when an unauthorized person is loitering on school grounds or when there is criminal activity in the neighborhood. Exterior doors are locked, but normal activities continue inside the building.  Also used during severe weather or other environmental threats (such as air contamination due to a local fire) to keep people safe while remaining indoors.

Lockdown: Used when there is a perceived danger inside the building. Doors are locked, windows are closed and locked, blinds are closed. People are directed to move away from windows and doors. Hallways are cleared of students and school staff.

Evacuation: When students and staff are moved out of the building to a safe location.

Reunification site: A safe place where school administrators will release students to their parents or guardians. Students will be released to authorized parents/guardians only with proper identification (driver’s license, state identification).