Crisis Management
-
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES The school district works closely with federal, state, and local agencies to provide a coordinated response plan to natural and man-made disasters or events that may affect school district operations. Should emergency situations occur, such as severe weather, an announcement will be released from the Office of the Superintendent to local radio and television stations. You will also be contacted through the District’s rapid communication system, Blackboard. Please keep your school posted regarding any changes to your address or contact information. During certain emergency conditions such as a lockdown, fire, etc. it may be necessary to close off a campus. The best way to help the emergency responders to carry out their duties, with maximum efficiency is to stay away from the school site. Should school operations be impacted or altered rest assured you will receive updated notifications through the District’s messaging system regarding specific actions that may be necessary.
STUDENT/PARENT REUNIFICATION Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. This process is called a Reunification and may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, hazmat or if a crisis occurs at the school. The Standard Reunification Method is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved. Because a reunification is not a typical end of school day event, a reunification may occur at a different location than the school a student attends. If this location is another school or other facility, then those students may be subject to a controlled release as well. NOTIFICATION Parents may be notified in a number of ways. The school or district may use its Blackboard broadcast phone or text message system. PARENT/GUARDIAN EXPECTATIONS If a parent or guardian is notified that a reunification is needed, there are some expectations that parents or guardians should know. First, bring identification. Proper identification, such as a driver’s license, ID card, military ID, etc. will streamline things during reunification. Second, be patient. Reunification is a process that protects both the safety of the student and provides for an accountable change of custody from the school to a recognized custodial parent or guardian.
CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN TERMS
-
When an emergency occurs at a campus or other school district location, the entire staff works together to provide an immediate and coordinated response. There are seven (7) basic procedures the District uses in response to various incidents:
-
This procedure involves the ability to return students & staff into the school building during sudden outside emergency events that threaten their safety such as lightning/severe weather, stray dogs on outside activity areas, threatening persons or conditions, etc. Reverse evacuations are often combined with other response actions such as duck & cover, lock downs, or shelter in place.
-
This involves providing a sick/isolation area separating sick persons from the general school population in situations involving potential flu or contagious disease exposure. Quarantine areas provide for supervision and monitoring of sick individuals until such time as they are released from the site. The supervisor of this area will be familiar with infection control procedures. The room selected will be well ventilated and provide for at least a six foot separation distance between ill persons and others.
-
(earthquake, explosion, roof collapse, structural failure, tornado) These are the basic procedures for all students, staff and visitors in the building to follow during any movement of the building structure. Movement may be caused by an earthquake, tornado, natural gas explosion, bomb or other event such as aircraft crashing into a building. Students and staff will seek either shelter in designated hallways, rooms, etc., avoiding large free-span roof areas (gyms, auditoriums and cafeterias) and portables. These procedures are designed to ensure the immediate safety of the occupants and the orderly and safe evacuation of the building when appropriate to do so.
-
A “Lock Out” involves students remaining/going inside a building when a potential threat is identified in a neighboring area around the campus. Inside activities go on as usual with an increased perimeter security and situational awareness until the potential threat is resolved. Extra North East ISD police officers will be dispatched to facilities in a lock-out.
-
(active shooter, violent persons) the purpose of the “lock-down” is to protect students and staff when a dangerous person(s) is on or near a campus and is deemed a direct threat to the safety and security of that site. The US Department of Justice provides guidance through a Standard Response Protocol that is not based on individual scenarios but on a response to any given situation that allows for great flexibility. For active threats such as shooters, they teach the RUN, HIDE and FIGHT protocol:
- Run - if you can get away to a different location away from the threat.
- Hide - stay quiet and seek shelter in a locked area away from windows.
- Fight - when all else fails to neutralize and stop the threat.
Separation from the violent person(s) must be maintained by locking doors and windows, avoiding windows or glass areas, closing curtains, etc. In case of gunfire in the immediate area, students and staff are instructed to run or seek immediate shelter behind heavy furniture or other items. A “Lock-Down” involves a complete and total lock down of a school or facility when there is an immediate threat to the campus. We remind parents not to attempt to go to the school as these actions can compromise the operations of emergency responders. Wait for reunification instructions from school district administrators.
-
(air pollution alert, toxic exposure, severe weather) Sometimes conditions outside of the school threaten the safety of school occupants; e.g. a fire creating toxic smoke, a toxic material spill, etc. During these conditions, staff and students will remain inside of the secured building with all of the building’s openings sealed. The purpose of “shelter in place” is to protect students and staff by keeping them inside the building while preventing toxic or hazardous chemicals from entering the building. HVAC systems are shut down to minimize the intake of fumes.
-
Fire drills are held in accordance with the requirements of the San Antonio Fire Department and in cooperation with the state organization for fire prevention. The drills are a precautionary measure for the safety of the students. Students will leave the building in the manner prescribed for each classroom. Instructions are posted on the bulletin board in each room. All teachers and students should know the procedures for leaving each room and the regulations that help them provide for the safety of everyone during a fire, gas leak or other exposure. Students are to move quickly in an orderly manner, to refrain from conversation, and to walk independently of others during fire drills. The signal for a fire drill is three (3) bells, to halt is one (1) bell, and to return to class is two (2) bells.
About the Ready South Texas App
Be prepared for disaster. The Ready South Texas app is an all-hazards overview of disaster information to help you prepare, plan and respond to disaster in your area. Using the Ready South Texas app, you will be able to:
- Share your status with your selected contacts with the push of a button.
- Receive critical emergency alerts via push notification.
- Locate Bexar County’s emergency shelters.
- Display up-to-date evacuation route maps.
- Get the latest news and weather for the South Texas area.
- Create a personalized Emergency Preparedness Plan by answering five basic questions.
