6114

Instruction

Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness

The Board of Education recognizes that the health, welfare and safety of its students and employees are dependent upon sound emergency preparedness planning. All employees of the school system are responsible for doing everything in their power to promote the safety of all of the students at all times. District staff shall be prepared to respond immediately and responsibly to any combination of events which threaten to result in a disaster as well as to a disaster when it occurs.

The Superintendent or his/her designee shall use state-approved School Security and Safety Plan Standards and the accompanying School Security and Safety Plan Template to be compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and incorporate the National Incident Command System when updating District and site-level emergency and disaster preparedness plans. Each school in the District, each school year, will develop and implement a school security and safety plan. Such plan shall be based upon the standards issued by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection/Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DESPP/DEMHS) and the accompanying School Security and Safety Plan Template. In addition to preparedness and response, the plan shall provide guidance on recovery from any emergency incident.

Each school shall establish a school security and safety committee which will assist in developing and administering the school's security and safety plan. The members of the Committee shall include a local police officer, local first responder, teacher and administrator from the school, a mental health professional, a parent or guardian of a student at the school and any other person deemed necessary; (school nurse, custodian, local health director, transportation coordinator, etc.)

Alternative language:

The Board of Education recognizes its obligation to students, staff and the community to be prepared to deal with various emergencies as they arise, ensuring to the greatest extent possible the safety of District students, staff and visitors.

The administration shall require the Building Principal to maintain procedures for fire, civil defense, and other emergencies, in accordance with the District's plan and to insure the maintenance of the fire alarm system and regular and emergency exits of all buildings. All building security and safety plans must be compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), incorporate the National Incident Command System and be based upon the standards issued by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.

The District will cooperate with local law enforcement, fire department and civil defense authorities and other civic agencies in the event of a declared emergency situation.or (alternate paragraph to the previous paragraph)

The Superintendent shall develop and maintain an emergency preparedness plan which shall make provisions for handling a variety of foreseeable emergencies, all-hazard threats, including terroristic activity. The emergency plan shall be kept current. The Superintendent shall use state-approved Standardized Emergency Management System guidelines and the accompanying School Security and Safety Plan Template, be compliant with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and incorporate the National Incident Command System when updating District and site-level emergency and disaster preparedness plans and be compliant with the standards issued by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Governmental agencies and bodies vested with the responsibility for directing and coordinating emergency services on local and state levels shall be included in the preparation and implementation of the plan.

The plan shall specify procedures to be taken in the District in the event of an emergency. As appropriate, the Board shall enter into cooperative agreements with other governmental entities to assure proper coordination and support during emergencies. At the beginning of each school year, parents and staff of each school shall receive a written summary of relevant sections of the plan relevant to that school.

The Board will conduct a security and vulnerability assessment for each of its schools every two years and develop a school security and safety plan for each such school in compliance with Section 87 of P.A. 13-3. By November 1 of each year the District must submit to the DEMHS Regional Coordinator one of the following: (1) those plan pages that have been updated; (2) the DEMHS provided form that the plan has not changed; or (3) a revised plan if the current plan has undergone a major revision.

First Aid

At least one person at each school site should hold current first aid and/or CPR certification.

(cf. 5141.6 - Crisis Prevention/Response)

(cf. 5142 - Student Safety)

(cf. 6114.1 - Fire Emergency/Crisis Response Drills)

(cf. 6114.3 - Bomb Threats)

(cf. 6114.6 - Emergency Closings)

(cf. 6114.7 - Safe Schools)

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules

10-231 Fire drills

52-557b Immunity from liability for emergency medical assistance, first aid or medication by injection.  School personnel not required to administer or render.

P.A. 13-3 An Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety (Section 86, 87, 88)

10-222m - School security and safety plans. School security and safety committees

10-222n - School security and safety plan standards

Policy adopted: