6114 Form 1

Letter to Parents Regarding Student Safety

NEW HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

New Hartford, Connecticut

Date

Re:  Student Safety

Dear Parents:

The District s top priority is student safety. In addition to physical safety, the District is concerned with the emotional well-being of students and will help students cope with an emergency or disaster and its aftermath. Our emergency and disaster response plans are as follows:

Safety Plans

The District has plans for emergency and disaster management:

1.  Preparedness   planning for an emergency or disaster event;

2.  Response   planned response to an emergency or disaster event;

These plans are covered in each school s site-based safety plan. In addition, the District has a Safety Program Coordinator. Each school also has a Crisis Management Team.

Communications

The District is in contact with the emergency response resources in the town of New Hartford. The District will disseminate emergency information via its website and its telephone communication system.

Emergency Responses

Emergency responses will depend on the circumstances and may include evacuation or lockdown. For evacuation purposes, each school has at least one off-campus site where students and staff assemble. If the threat is chemical or biological in nature, to avoid contamination, we ask that no one enter or leave the building until it is safe to do so.

In the event your child s school is evacuated, the school will attempt to notify you as soon as possible at the home and/or emergency numbers provided previously to the school. The news media will also be notified.

All students at the New Hartford Elementary School and Bakerville Consolidate School will go to Ann Antolini School. You may pick-up your child at this location after notifying the school official in charge. Additional instructions will be given in the event of an evacuation, including alternative methods to return your child home.

Cooperation and Assistance Request

During any emergency or potential disaster and for the safety of all students and staff, we request that you follow the instructions of the Town s Emergency Management Director as well as the Building Principal. These instructions will be widely disseminated.

Defamatory or disruptive behavior will only lessen our response effectiveness.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Superintendent s office or your child s Principal.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and support.

Website Address: www.newhtfd.org

Sincerely,

Superintendent of Schools

Source: Illinois Association of School Boards Policy Reference Service