McMeen Elementary

Dear McMeen Families,

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the challenges many of our families are facing during this time. Please know that Denver Public Schools and McMeen Elementary remain fully committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for every student.

Our Safety Procedures

While we have safety policies in place, we are actively working to strengthen our systems to ensure the safety of our community. These systems will involve shifting staff to different areas of the building/school grounds to ensure all areas are secure. Moving forward, we will follow these procedures to ensure only authorized individuals enter our building:

Building Entry:

• Visitors are required to identify themselves through the intercom system at the front door before being allowed into the building.
• If you do not have scheduled business at the school, you will be asked to contact school personnel and set up an appointment.
• Scheduled appointments with staff must be confirmed before allowing anyone into the building.
• We kindly ask all parents, staff, and visitors to refrain from holding the door open for the person behind you. While this may feel like a courteous gesture, it is vital for everyone to use the intercom system at the front door to identify themselves.

  • Morning Arrival:

    • ALL students must use the designated entrances at the back of the school building for morning arrival. (Only ECE-114 will be allowed at the front doors for arrival)
    • The front doors need to remain clear as we do not have sufficient staff at the front to welcome students inside.
    • Tardy/late students will only be accepted at the front doors starting at 7:40 AM, once staff transition from the blacktop to the building to manage foot traffic.

Early Student Pick-Up:

• When picking up a student, you will need to identify the student through the intercom system.
• You will be asked to remain outside while we bring your student to you.
• A valid ID will be required when your student is released to you.

End-of-Day Policy:

• Students will not be released from the office after 2:20 PM. Families arriving during this time will be directed to wait on the blacktop until dismissal at 2:40 PM.
• Parents may not enter the building under any circumstances without first checking in at the office. This means parents will need to walk to the front of the building to identify themselves through the intercom system.
• All parents must pick up their students from the back of the school on the blacktop. At approximately 2:50 PM, teachers will escort any remaining students to the office to be checked in. Parents will need to call the office to pick them up.
• If you arrive after 2:50 PM, please use the intercom system to sign your student out.
• Please remember, starting at 3:00 PM, parents will be charged $1 per minute, as per our late pick-up policy.

District Policies on Immigration and Safety

We also adhere to the following Denver Public Schools policies that reinforce our commitment to student safety:

• Building Access (DPS Policy K): Only individuals with legitimate business are allowed into the building. This includes government officials and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Prohibition of Immigration Activities (DPS Policy JIH): Federal immigration law enforcement activities are not permitted at our schools, on transportation routes, on DPS property, or during school activities.
• Student Privacy (FERPA and DPS Policy JRA/JRC-R): Access to student documents is very limited, and DPS does not collect immigration status information from families.

Family Toolkit

A Family Resource Toolkit is available in English and Spanish, and contains information and resources about rights, current DPS policies, training, mental health support, DPS resources, community resources and more.

Prepared Staff

All members of our school leadership team and office staff have been trained on how to respond appropriately if a government official arrives at our school. This information has also been shared with staff to ensure consistent and informed responses. 

We are prepared to follow all DPS policies to keep our students safe, secure, and focused on their education. Your cooperation with these measures helps us maintain a strong and safe school community.

I understand change is hard, but this is in the best interest of our school community as a whole. If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Andria Hinman
Principal, McMeen Elementary