• COMMUNICATING IN A CRISIS IN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES OF THE CRISIS

    THE SUPERVISOR ON SITE WILL:

    Initiate crisis plan as outlined in this pamphlet.

    Contact any emergency services needed-Police, Fire, Ambulance, Utilities, etc.

    Contact the Superintendent’s office at 488-2659.  The Superintendent will notify the Public Information Officer, who will handle communications with media.  Refer all calls from media to the Public Information Officer. The Public Information Officer will be the official spokesperson.  

    *Decide with the Incident Commander the content and timing of information to be released.

    *Decide with the Incident Commander and Public Information Officer the following:

    • Will reporters be allowed on school grounds?
    • Will reporters be allowed to speak with students?
    • Is a parent release necessary?
    • If & when reporters may speak with students?
    • Will school photographs be released?

    During a Crisis

    Depending upon the crisis, the building and central office receptionists will be provided with appropriate information to share with callers:  Where to pick up students, etc. 

    A script will be provided by the Public Information Officer as appropriate.  It is essential in a crisis that everyone is getting accurate, factual information as soon as possible.

    If deemed necessary a statement will be sent out to the community using the current district communication method (Currently BLACKBOARD).  Message will include factual information of the crisis and instructions for parents as to reunification with children.

    After a Crisis

    If deemed necessary a statement will be mailed to parents and community members of students involved in the crisis.

    EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

    Evacuation:

    The purpose of an evacuation is to get all persons inside the building to the outside of the building for safety in case of a fire or other unforeseen events.

    When alerted to evacuate, by either a fire alarm or announcement of evacuation with a clear and plain spoken message. 

    During an evacuation you should:

    • Leave the building as quickly and safely as possible.
    • Follow any building specific evacuation protocols.
    • Follow posted evacuation routes if unobstructed.
    • Go to designated evacuation assembly site.
    • Do not leave the evacuation site until directed to do so.
    • Staff should maintain control of and account for all students under their direction.
    • All uncounted persons must be articulated to the building administration.

    When the evacuation is completed:

    • The district shall give direction as to whether school will be resumed or released.
    • The district shall communicate to staff and the community as to the purpose of and the outcome of the evacuation.

    Fire/Evacuation drills will be conducted at least 6 times during the school year.

    Modified Lockdown:

    The purpose of a Modified Lockdown is to isolate the staff and students from a possible threat, but still continue instruction.

    When a modified lockdown is announced, the announcer shall give a clear and plain spoken message for the modified lockdown.

    During a modified lockdown you should:

    • Lock all doors
    • Close all window blinds
    • Staff and students remain in classrooms and continue instruction.
    • Attendance shall be taken. All uncounted persons must be articulated to the building administration.
    • Staff should be prepared for a full lockdown, evacuation, or release of modified lockdown.
    • Students are not left alone or allowed to leave a classroom without supervision.
    • If students must move around the school, the administration will communicate a controlled a movement. The school administration will assign staff for extra supervision during a controlled movement.

    When the modified lockdown is completed:

    • The modified lockdown will be announced completed and the school will resume normally.
    • The district administration will communicate to staff and the community as to purpose of and the outcome of the modified lockdown.

    Modified Lockdown drills are conducted at least one time during the school year.

    Emergency Lockdown:

    The purpose of a lockdown is to hide in place in the school from a threat to the staff and students.

    When a lockdown is announced, the announcer shall give clear, plain direction for the lockdown.

    During a lockdown you should:

    • Lock all doors
    • Close all window blinds
    • Turn off lights
    • Turn off any noise making devices (Cell phones)
    • Stay quiet and hidden
    • No one enters or exits the room (NO ONE)
    • Attendance shall be taken. All uncounted persons must be articulated to the building administration (only if it can be done safely and quietly.)

    The lockdown will remain in effect until all clear is given with a clear and plain spoken message or first responders enter your room and evacuate you.

    When the lockdown is completed:

    • The administration shall communicate to staff as to resume instruction or prepare for release.
    • The district shall communicate to staff and the community as to the purpose of and the outcome of the lockdown.

    Lockdown drills are conducted at least one time during the school year.

    Shelter In Place:

    The purpose of shelter in place is to isolate the staff, students, and visitors in the school building from an outside contaminant.

    When a Shelter in place is announced, the announcer shall give clear and plain direction pertaining to the shelter in place.

    During a Shelter in place you should:

    • Move inside of the building into a room with the least amount of openings to the outside as possible.
    • Seal off the room from the outside contaminants using duct tape provided in the safety cupboard in the room. (Use garbage bags or clear plastic if needed to seal the room)
    • Seal off any openings to ventilation systems.
    • Remain calm.
    • Attendance shall be taken. All uncounted persons must be articulated to the building administration
    • Remain in the room unless released by administration or first responders.
    • The shelter in place will remain in effect until the threat of contamination has gone or the threat is too great to stay.

    When a shelter in place is complete:

    • The administration shall communicate to the staff whether to resume instruction or prepare for release.
    • The district shall communicate to the staff and the community as to the purpose of and the outcome of the shelter in place.

    Shelter in place drills are conducted once per school year.

    Run/Hide/Fight

    Run and escape, if possible:

    • Getting out of harm’s way is the top priority.
    • Leave your belongings behind and get away.
    • Help others escape, if possible, but evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow.
    • Warn and prevent individuals from entering an area where a potential threat exists.
    • Call 911 when you are safe, and describe the threat (who, what, where, when, description of threat)

    Hide, if escape is not possible:

    • Get out of the view of the threat and stay quiet.
    • Silence all electronic devices and make sure they will not vibrate.
    • Lock and block doors, close blinds, and turn off lights.
    • Do not hide in groups-spread out along walls or hide separately to make it more difficult for the threat.
    • Try to communicate with police silently. Use text message or social media to tag your location, or put a sign in a window.
    • Stay in place until law enforcement gives you the all clear.
    • Your hiding place should be out of the view of the threat and provide protection if shots are fired in your direction.

    Fight as an absolute last resort:

    • Commit to your actions and act as aggressively as possible against the threat.
    • Recruit others to ambush the threat with makeshift weapons like chairs, fire extinguishers, scissors, books, etc.
    • Be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the threat.
    • Throw items and improvise weapons to distract and disarm the threat.

    When the Police arrive at your location:

    • Keep hands visible and empty.
    • Do as instructed by police.

    Use of Reasonable Force

    The use of reasonable force by any school employee should only be used as a last resort in the event that there is a threat of imminent danger to persons or property.

    Any school employee who uses reasonable force for the purpose of isolation or restraint on a student during school-sponsored instruction or activities must inform the building administrator or building administrator's designee as soon as possible, and within two business days submit a written report of the incident to the district office. The written report must include, at a minimum, the following information: 

    • The date and time of the incident.
    • The name and job title of the individual who administered the use of reasonable force.
    • A description of the activity that led to the use of reasonable force.
    • The type of reasonable force used on the student, including the duration.
    • Whether the student or staff was physically injured during the incident and any medical care provided.
    • Any recommendations for changing the nature or amount of resources available to the student and staff members in order to avoid similar incidents.
    • The principal or principal's designee must make a reasonable effort to verbally inform the student's parent or guardian within twenty-four hours of the incident, and must send written notification as soon as practical but postmarked no later than five business days after the restraint or isolation occurred. If the school or school district customarily provides the parent or guardian with school-related information in a language other than English, the written report under this section must be provided to the parent or guardian in that language.