6114.1

Instruction

Fire Emergency (Drills)/Crisis Response Drills

A fire drill shall be held at least once a month in each school building.  The initial fire drill must be held not later than thirty days after the first day of each school year.  A crisis response drill shall be substituted for one of the required monthly school fire drills every three months.  Each Building Principal shall prepare a definite fire emergency plan, and furnish to all teachers and students information as to route and manner of exit.  Fire drills shall be planned in such a way as to accomplish the evacuation of school buildings in the shortest possible time and in the most efficient and orderly fashion.

The format of the crisis response drill shall be developed in consultation with the appropriate local law enforcement agency.  Further, a representative of the law enforcement agency may supervise and participate in any of the required crisis response drills.  Such drills shall incorporate the basic protocols of lockdown, evacuation and shelter-in-place responses. The activation and utilization of the Incident Command System shall also be a part of the crisis response drills.

Principals shall keep a record of all fire and crisis response drills held in their schools, stating the date the drill was held and the time required for the response protocols utilized in the drill.  They shall furnish such reports to the Superintendent or his designate as may from time to time be required.

Local law enforcement and other local public safety officials shall evaluate, score and provide feedback on fire drills and crisis response drills conducted pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 10-231. "Public Safety Officials" include the local emergency management director, fire marshal, building inspector and emergency medical services representative.  Each of the named officials should evaluate and provide feedback on a representative sampling of fire/crisis response drills each year. The Board of Education shall annually submit reports to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection regarding such fire drills and crisis response drills.

(cf. 5141.6 - Crisis Management Plan)

(cf. 5142 - Student Safety)

(cf. 6114 - Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness)

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

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

10-222n School security and safety plan standards

10-231 Fire drills. (as amended by PA 00-220 and PA 09-131)

Policy adopted:

6114.1

Instruction

Fire Emergency Drills/Crisis Response Drills

In the event that fire is discovered in any of the school plants, the Fire Department shall be called immediately following giving the signal to evacuate the building.

The Principal of each school shall hold at least one fire drill each month in which all students, teachers and other employees shall be required to leave the school building.  The initial fire drill must be held not later than thirty days after the first day of each school year.

A crisis response drill shall be substituted for one of the required monthly school fire drills every three months. Such drills shall incorporate the basic protocols of lockdown, evacuation and shelter-in-place responses.  The activation and utilization of the Incident Command System shall also be a part of the crisis response drills.

The format of the crisis response drill shall be developed in consultation with the appropriate local law enforcement agency, the fire department and other community first responders including the local emergency management director, fire marshal, building inspector and emergency medical services representative.  Further, a representative of the law enforcement agency may supervise and participate in any of the required crisis response drills.

Local law enforcement and other local public safety officials, as listed above, shall evaluate, score and provide feedback on fire drills and crisis response drills.

1.  Students, during an evacuation response, must leave the building in an orderly and rapid manner and teachers are required to check to ascertain that no student remains in the building.

2.  Real emergencies often call for alternate exits to be used.  Teachers must be prepared to select and direct their classes to these alternate exits in the event the designated escape route is blocked.

3.  A record shall be kept in the Principal's office of each fire and crisis response drill conducted.  A copy of the record shall also be filed in the Office of the Superintendent.  In the manner required, the Board of Education annually will submit reports of the fire and crisis response drills to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Principals and teachers shall recognize that the essential element in any emergency is prevention of panic.  Principals and teachers shall afford students such confidence as clarity of direction and supervision can contribute.

The District shall annually submit a report, by July 1, to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection/Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DESPP/DEMHS) regarding types, frequency and feedback related to the fire drills and crisis response drills, utilizing the DESPP/DEMHS template for such reports.

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-231 Fire drills (as amended by PA 00-220 and PA 09-131)

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

10-222n - School security and safety plan standards

PA 13-3 An Act Concerning Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety

Regulation approved: