Park City School District outlines safety protocols, concerns over gun laws

Photo: TownLift // Rayne Moynahan

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District Safety and Security Director Eric Esquivel said the district conducts monthly emergency response drills and works closely with law enforcement. Still, Utah’s concealed carry laws remain his biggest safety concern.

“We train monthly on these drills,” Esquivel said. State law requires schools to hold one drill within the first 10 days of the school year and another after winter break. Elementary schools must then practice each month, while secondary schools conduct four additional drills throughout the year.

The district follows the Standard Response Protocol, which includes the following options: “hold,” “secure,” “lockdown,” “evacuate,” and “shelter.” Esquivel said parents are not typically notified during a hold or secure unless the situation escalates. For lockdowns, evacuations, or shelter-in-place events, parents receive a text message with instructions.

“One of the things that they’ll see in there is ‘do not report to the school,’” Esquivel said. “When we have dozens, if not hundreds, of parents descending upon us, it complicates the incident, and it really slows down and potentially prevents us from managing the incident effectively.”

To coordinate with first responders, the district uses a program called Aegix, which allows staff to report incidents from a phone or computer. The alert system is directly connected to dispatch centers, law enforcement agencies, and fire departments. “When we run our drills, our school resource officers are present. We invite the fire department also to participate,” Esquivel said. “We want all the key players there to make sure that we’re doing things that coincide with how they’re going to operate.”

Esquivel said the district also uses ZeroEyes, an artificial intelligence camera system that detects weapons and alerts authorities without requiring a 911 call. Other preventative measures include limiting entry points, monitoring hallways with staff, and installing ballistic film and blinds on classroom windows.

The new build at Park City High School reflects some of the challenges of balancing modern design with security needs, Esquivel said. The building was designed with community input to showcase natural light, mountain views, and modular classrooms that can be opened for collaborative learning. “At the time that was being thought of and designed, we didn’t have as many school shootings, and it wasn’t as close to home as it is today,” Esquivel said. “So what we have done is applied ballistic film to that glass, and we’re going to be adding blinds to those classrooms that have the big windows. In a lockdown, they can be drawn down so they’re not in sight.”

New locks will also be installed, clearly indicating whether a door is secured. Esquivel noted that in past school shootings, locked doors and obscured classrooms often prompted gunmen to move on.

Esquivel also addressed a frequent parent concern about cell phones during emergencies. He said that in a genuine lockdown, teachers would allow students to text their parents, but in a managed way to prevent confusion and misinformation. “Our thought in case of a lockdown or an emergency is to give teachers the ability to allow the student to send a message, but have it a little more controlled,” he said. “Text your parents, let them know ‘we’re okay.’ That way it’s managed. We have to trust the system and allow the system to work.”

Still, Esquivel said state laws allowing concealed carry in public schools create ongoing risks. “My biggest safety concern is the law allowing people to conceal carry and enter public schools,” Esquivel said. “What I’m opposed to is not having the authority to know who’s coming into our buildings with a weapon.”

He encouraged parents and community members to contact their state representatives if they share that concern.

While Utah law requires armed personnel in schools, Esquivel said Park City is in full compliance. Each campus has a school resource officer on site from “bell to bell,” through a cost-sharing partnership with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the Park City Police Department. “We chose to go with the safest and most reliable system,” he said. “They’re trained, they qualify with their weapons, and situational awareness is part of their every minute experience.”

Esquivel added that he appreciates much of the recent state legislation aimed at improving safety. The district installed ballistic glass film before it was legally required and supports the mandate for resource officers in every school. “I’m extremely grateful for the protective measures the state legislature has required, like ballistic film and resource officers,” he said. “They do take our students’ safety seriously, and they have a whole team at the state level that handles that. We work in partnership with the county, with state, with our local partners.”

The district is also working on recovery and mental health support, Esquivel added, with staff such as mental health coach Jed Thomas helping counselors and social workers prepare for student and community needs after a crisis.

He added that the school lives by the motto, “If you see something, say something.” He encourages parents to contact him directly with any questions, comments, or concerns.

“We work very closely with our first responders, we provide our staff training, and I’m very grateful for the support we’ve received,” Esquivel said.