Policy 3516 - Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Plan

Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Plan

The Board of Education recognizes that all district staff and students must be prepared to respond quickly and responsibly to emergencies, disasters, and threats of disaster.

School employees are considered disaster service workers and are subject to disaster service activities assigned to them.

The Superintendent or designee shall develop and maintain a disaster preparedness plan that details provisions for handling all emergencies and disasters and which shall be included in the comprehensive school safety plan.

Rule 3516

Components of the Plan

Routine and emergency disaster procedures shall be included in the comprehensive school safety plan in accordance with Education Code 32282.

In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that district and school site procedures address, at a minimum, the following types of emergencies and disasters:

1. Fire on or off school grounds which endangers students and staff
2. Earthquake or other natural disasters
3. Environmental hazards
4. Attack disturbance, or threat of attack or disturbance, by an individual or group.
5. Bomb threat or actual detonation
6. Biological, radiological, chemical and other terrorist activities, or heightened warning of such activities

The Superintendent or designee shall also ensure that the district's procedures include strategies and actions for prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Regular inspection of school facilities and equipment and identifications of risks
2. Instruction and practice for students and employees regarding emergency plans
3. The roles and responsibilities of staff during a disaster or other emergency
4. Personal safety and security, including the supervision, evacuation, and release of students, the administration of first aid, and the closure of the school if necessary.
5. Communications among staff, parents/guardians, the Governing Board, other governmental agencies, and the media during an emergency
6. Cooperation with other agencies, including guidelines for law enforcement involvement and intervention
7. Steps to be taken following the disaster or emergency, including inspection of school facilities and provision of mental health services for students and staff as needed.

The Superintendent or designee shall use state-approved Standardized Emergency Management System guidelines when updating district and site-level emergency and disaster preparedness plans.

The Superintendent or designee may provide a plan which allows bus seating capacity limits to be exceeded when a disaster or hazard requires students to be moved immediately to ensure their safety.

School Response to an Emergency

The principal or designee shall assume overall control and supervision of activities at the school site during an emergency. He/she may use his/her discretion in emergency situations which do not permit execution of prearranged plan.

Students may be released to the custody of a parent/guardian or other adult in accordance with Board policy and administrative regulation. When reference to the emergency card is impossible, individual students shall be released to parents/ guardians, persons authorized by the parents/guardians, or authorized persons representing public agencies that may take responsibility , when necessary, for the safety of the student. All such persons shall present identification before a student is released to their custody.

The Board shall grant the use of school buildings, grounds and equipment to public agencies, including the American Red Cross, for mass care and welfare shelters during disasters or other emergencies affecting the public health and welfare. The Board shall cooperate with such agencies in furnishing and maintaining whatever services they deem necessary to meet the community's needs.

The Board encourages all employees to become proficient in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The Superintended or designee shall ascertain that at least one staff member at each school holds a valid certificate in these areas. The Superintendent or designee shall provide for CPR in-service training to be offered at least once a year for district staff.

All staff, students, and parents/guardians shall receive information about district and school site procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency. Procedures shall be regularly reviewed and practiced. Evacuation routes shall be posted in classrooms, multipurpose rooms, and other school facilities as appropriate.