Somerset school official hopes to change crisis management codes

Code red, code orange, and code green are examples of Somerset County’s crisis management codes.   

Gregory Sutton, the operations and transportation supervisor for the district believes the crisis management code can be confusing. He believes it can be tough remembering which color aligns with what action. Students and visitors may not know them at all.

Sutton is planning to write a proposal to the superintendent to rid of the codes and use plain language when communicating during an emergency.

Sutton says, “Do you think a third grader or a second grader would know what a code red means? No, but they might know that there’s a stranger in the building who may try to hurt you. They’re in the bathroom by the library. If I’m at the other end of the school, I’m going to exit.”

Sutton hopes to have the codes changed by next school year.