8420A - EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Southern Local School District

Administrative Guidelines

8420A - EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
"Go Home" Procedures

(To be used in any emergency "Go Home" situation, e.g., hurricanes, snow storms, power failures, aircraft attack.)

The primary consideration in any emergency situation must be the safety of the students. At certain times, therefore, it may be necessary to ask the staff to perform "beyond the call of duty" in order to provide for the welfare of our students. In the event of an actual emergency situation, all school personnel, instructional and non-instructional, will be required to remain in the building until they are dismissed by the principal.

In the event of an emergency situation, the following procedures will be followed:

		1.	When the school receives notice of an emergency situation, an announcement will be made directing all students to remain in class to await further instructions.
		2.	Students who live within one and one-half (1-1/2) miles of their building and previously designated by the Transportation Office as "walkers" may be dismissed. "Walkers" must be instructed to leave the building immediately and to go directly home.
		3.	Those students living beyond the one and one-half (1-1/2) mile radius of the building will remain in their classes until the buses arrive.
		4.	Upon the arrival of the buses, an announcement will be made dismissing those students still in class.
		5.	Teachers not in class will assist in immediately clearing the building.

During the emergency situation the professional and classified staff members will supervise the orderly evacuation of their building in the following manner:

		1.	The chief custodian will assign and instruct the members of his/her staff to positions that allow "free-flow" of traffic on and off school property.
		2.	Administrators will report to the main office for assignment.
		3.	All clerical personnel will be expected to be at their regular stations except in cases of re-assignment by their immediate supervisor.
		4.	Guidance counselors will report to the main office to secure specific assignments.
		5.	Cafeteria personnel will remain in their areas until notified to the contrary by the main office.

Above all, it is imperative that all personnel remain calm and in control throughout the emergency.

Other Types of Emergencies

Bona fide fire or similar problem

		1.	pull alarm.
		2.	notify office immediately.

Bomb scare

When a telephone call is received, the person receiving the call should:

			a.	record time of call.
			b.	try to get caller to give specific location of "bomb".
			c.	determine the sex of the caller.
			d.	determine if possible the approximate age of the caller.
			e.	note any peculiar speech pattern such as a strong accent.
			f.	immediately notify the nearest administrator who in turn will notify the principal and other administrators.

The principal will immediately notify the custodial staff to begin a search of the building, especially in the following areas:

			a.	locker rooms,
			b.	lavatories,
			c.	fire extinguisher receptacles,
			d.	waste paper receptacles,
			e.	lecture hall and cafeterias,
			f.	outside the perimeter of building,
			g.	corridors.

		3.	The principal will notify the Superintendent and the police.
		4.	The principal will immediately circulate a pre-arranged prepared message to the faculty. Upon receiving this message, the faculty will discreetly search their immediate locations.
		5.	Should a suspicious object be found, the principal should be contacted after evacuating the area. The police shall be notified immediately. Under no circumstances should a suspicious object be touched or any attempt made to move it.

Explosion

		1.	The nearest administrator will call the police and fire departments.
		2.	Evacuate the remainder of the building. Get the students and staff to a safe location and maintain control of the students.
		3.	Notify the Superintendent.
		4.	Develop a list of casualties, if any.
		5.	Together with central office staff establish an information center staffed by officials who will be able to handle all inquiries about injured persons and the status of the school.

Student or staff member held hostage

		1.	Isolate the area. DO NOT make a P.A. announcement or sound the fire alarm. The nearest administrator will direct teachers and monitors on duty to notify teachers in nearby classes to take their students to a previously determined area.
		2.	Notify the police immediately, giving as much information as possible (e.g. number of terrorists, number of hostages, types of demands being made). Police will be in charge once they arrive.
		3.	Notify the Superintendent.
		4.	Develop a list of casualties, if any.

Intruders in building or on school property

		1.	Ask to leave.
		2.	If they do not leave, remind them of trespassing law.
		3.	Notify main office.
		4.	Avoid any physical conflict or loud verbal altercations.
		5.	Administrator or person in charge will notify police if intruders do not leave.
		6.	Notify central office.
		7.	Depending on the number of intruders and the nature of their intrusion, an administrator may want to summon all "free" teachers.

Demonstrators or pickets around building before school opens

		1.	Note procedures above for intruders. (Part E)
		2.	Attempt to enter building peaceably.
		3.	Notify central office.
		4.	If demonstrators seem to pose a threat, it might be necessary to hold students on the school buses.

Demonstrators or pickets around building at dismissal

		1.	Follow procedures for intruders. (Part E)
		2.	Notify main office.
		3.	Office will summon all "free" teachers.
		4.	If demonstrators seem to pose a threat, it may be necessary to hold students in class until further notice.
		5.	Notify central office.

Student demonstration or sit-in

		1.	Depending on the size and nature of the demonstration, the nearest administrator may want to summon "free" teachers.
		2.	Notify main office.
		3.	Try to determine the reason for the demonstration.
		4.	Identify the leader or leaders of the group.
		5.	Notify the group that the administration will confer with the leader(s) but not until all other students return to class.
		6.	If students disperse and return to class, meet with leaders.
		7.	If students refuse to disperse, remind them of truancy guidelines and the consequences of school disruption. With other teachers, try to identify as many participants as possible. Notify parents of participants asking them to come to school.
		8.	Notify central office.
		9.	Try to keep non-participating students away from the demonstration area.
		10.	Follow through on disciplinary action on students refusing to cooperate.

Buses not operating - students in school

		1.	All students remain in class.
		2.	Summon all "free" teachers for instruction.
		3.	Students with their own cars will be dismissed first (over the P.A. system).
		4.	Students within walking distance will be dismissed next after the cars have left.
		5.	Parents will be notified of the problem via the PTA/PTO phone chain and urged to provide transportation for their children.
		6.	After the students driving themselves or walking home have departed, all remaining students will report to designated areas in the school.
		7.	As parents arrive at school to pick up their children, they will be directed to the appropriate area.
		8.	If it appears that large numbers of students will have to remain at school for an extended period of time, the cafeteria staff will be alerted.

Major disruptions at an assembly

		1.	Bring house lights to full on.
		2.	If those causing the disruption are too numerous to be handled by teachers on duty, dismiss the assembly and instruct all present to report to next period class.
		3.	If those causing the disruption are outsiders, follow procedure for intruders.