Crisis Teams

     Every school in the district shall establish a Crisis Team to plan strategy to handle various emergencies, including those outlined in this handbook. The crisis plan that is established to cover each emergency situation must be filed with the Superintendent of Schools or his designee. The team should be composed of both certified and classified staff.
     At an elementary school, the committee could be made up of the principal, secretary, a teacher or two, the custodian, and cafeteria manager. In larger schools, more people could be used. For example, team members could be drawn from the different floors, wings or departments of a school.

Team Responsibilities

     Before a crisis occurs, the team should organize, establish responsibilities, and develop contingency plans to deal with different situations. Staff responsibilities could include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Communications with staff, students, parents, and media. The district's director of public information and communication may be called upon to fill this responsibility or to assist the building representative. As soon as possible, the responsible team member should develop a brief statement of facts to be used by the person answering the telephone.
• Building security.
• First aid.
• Telephone procedures to receive and direct calls related to the emergency. Locate phones in the building and, also, outside phones that can be used in case the building telephone system is inoperable.
• Maintenance of a "log" in which are listed the date, time, and nature of each incident, names of persons involved, and descriptions of the action taken.
• Locate an alternate location, as well as transportation, to move students and staff if necessary.
• Notification of the Central Office.

     When a crisis occurs, the team should assemble immediately to assess the situation. Certain questions must be answered before appropriate plans can be implemented: Are there injuries? Extent of physical damage? Are there dangerous situations that require immediate action? Do the phones work?
     Having a contingency plan in place is not enough. During the school year, the team should conduct several drills to see if every aspect of the plan works well. Modifications may have to be made according to the assessment of the drill.

Notifications

     The final decisions for determining the nature of the emergency and requesting assistance is the responsibility of the school principal. Any problem will be relayed immediately to the Superintendent of Schools. Frequent updates should be made to the superintendent's office as the situation warrants. Good communication and the benefit of involving key decision makers will insure that the crisis is handled in the best way possible.
     The principal or his/her designee will then notify the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil and Parent Services. The Assistant Superintendent for Pupil and Parent Services will secure additional security officers if they are needed and notify the Director of Public Information and Communication, and the Assistant Superintendents.

Reaction Review

     As soon as possible after the crisis, a comprehensive review of the situation needs to be made by the key persons involved. Weaknesses in the response need to be identified and recommendations for changes made to aid in the handling of future disasters.