Chief of Safety and Emergency Operations: Michael Baumaister

Phone: (813) 794-7937

Administrative Assistant: Tara Nixon
Email: tnixon@pasco.k12.fl.us

Student safety in Pasco County Schools is our top priority. We have armed law enforcement or certified armed school safety guards at every school. We also have a Chief of Safety and Emergency Operations who oversees district security and works very closely with our local law enforcement partners.  Each year, we update our crisis response plans and work with local law enforcement so that we are prepared to respond appropriately to a variety of emergency situations. In cooperation with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, we maintain school safety Facebook and Twitter sites. These sites are where you can go to find the most current and accurate information in a crisis. Keep in mind that it may be in the best interests of students and staff safety for us to wait to publicize information in an emergency but it is our goal to release the most accurate information in an appropriate and timely manner.

Interested in being a School Safety Guard at one of our schools?  Complete the School Safety Guard Interest Form to be contacted for our next application window.

Message from the Superintendent on Social Media Threats

September 13, 2024

 

Important message regarding school violence from Sheriff Nocco and Superintendent Browning

Consequences for Making a False Threat

ADDITIONAL LINK: Watch the Sheriff's video on false threats

 

Active Threat Plan

The school district and sheriff's office continuously practice safety drills and update our safety procedures to provide the best response possible to a variety of crisis situations.

Pasco County Schools was one of the first in Florida to develop our own Active Threat Plan (ATP), which was introduced at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.  It aligns with best practices for K-12 education as recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. All of these agencies recommend some version of a strategy that involves running (evacuating), hiding in a secure place, or defending yourself as a last resort (countering), whichever response is appropriate.  All of our strategies align with the most current Florida State Statutes and we frequently review and update our plans as needed.