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Districtwide School Safety Plan

Access the PDF of the Districtwide School Safety Plan here.

INTRODUCTION

Emergencies and violent incidents in school districts are critical issues that must be addressed in an expeditious and effective manner. School Districts are required to develop a District-Wide School Safety Plan designed to prevent or minimize the effects of serious, violent incidents and emergencies and to facilitate the coordination of schools with local and county resources in the event of such incidents or emergencies.

The District-Wide Plan is responsive to the needs of all schools within the District and is consistent with the more detailed emergency response plans required at the school building level. Schools are at risk of a wide variety of acts of violence and natural and technological disasters. To address these threats, the State of New York has enacted the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) law.

This component of Project SAVE is a comprehensive planning effort that addresses risk reduction/prevention, response, and recovery with respect to a variety of emergencies in the District and its schools.

North Colonie Central School District supports the SAVE Legislation and intends to facilitate the planning process. The Superintendent of Schools of North Colonie Central School District encourages and advocates on-going cooperation and support of Project SAVE.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

A.  Purpose

The North Colonie Central School District District-Wide Emergency Response Plan was developed pursuant to Commissioner’s Regulation 155.17. At the direction of the North Colonie Central School District Board of Education, the Superintendent of Schools appointed a District-Wide School Safety Team and charged it with the development and maintenance of the Emergency Response Plan.

B.  Identification of School Teams

The North Colonie Central School District has appointed a District-Wide Emergency Response Team consisting of, but not limited to, representatives of the school board, teacher, administrator, and parent organizations, school safety personnel and other school personnel including bus drivers and monitors.

C.  Concept of Operations

  • The Emergency Response Plan is directly linked to the individual Building-Level Emergency Response Plans as a matter of protocol. The activation of a Building-Level Emergency Response Plan triggers the notification of the chain of command and the assessment of the activation of the District-Wide School Safety Plan and District-Wide Response Team.
  • The Emergency Response Plan was developed through extensive analysis of the local environment, emergency potential, and available resources. Through training and workshops that included school employees, administration and local emergency services, the plan has been developed to address the specific needs of the North Colonie Central School District and the community.
    • In the event of an emergency or violent incident, the initial response to all emergencies at an individual school will be by the School Emergency Response Team. The Building Principal is responsible for

notifying the Superintendent of Schools or the highest-ranking person in the chain of command of any necessary building-level plan activation. This notification shall be accomplished through the use of the telephone or other communication method.

  • Upon the activation of the School Emergency Response Team, the Superintendent of Schools or their designee, shall be notified and where appropriate, local emergency officials shall also be notified.
  • Whenever the Building-Level Emergency Response Plan is activated and results in the closing of a school building within the District, the Superintendent of Schools or their designee shall notify the commissioner as soon as possible and shall provide such information as the commissioner may require in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. In addition, the District’s Superintendent of Schools or their designee shall provide timely notification to the BOCES District Superintendent. In the situation of routine snow emergency days, such information will not be provided to the commissioner.
  • County and state resources supplement the District’s emergency action planning in a number of ways:
  • State and local law enforcement provide building reviews and employee training.
    • Local law enforcement and emergency services participate in planning and training exercises and develop strategies for managing Building-Level emergencies.
    • A protocol exists for the District to use certain facilities for sheltering during times of emergencies.
    • A protocol exists for the use of county mental health resources during post incident responses.

D.  Plan Review and Public Comment

  • Pursuant to Commissioner’s Regulation, Section 155.17 (e)(3), this plan will be made available for public comment at least 30 days prior to its adoption. The District’s Board of Education shall adopt the Emergency Response Plan only after one public hearing that provides for the participation of school personnel, parents, students and any other interested parties. The plan shall be formally adopted by the Board of Education.
  • Full copies of the Emergency Response Plan and any amendments shall be submitted to the New York State Education Department within 30 days of adoption.
    • This plan shall be reviewed periodically during the year and maintained by the District-Wide School Safety Team. The required annual review shall be completed on or before September 1 of each year after its adoption by the Board of Education.

RISK REDUCTION/PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

A. Prevention/Intervention Strategies Program Initiatives

A program geared to prevention is designed to not only decrease incidents of violence and bullying but to help students build more supportive relationships with one another by integrating the bullying prevention program into classroom instruction. Staff members and students will be sensitized, through district-wide professional development and instruction, to the warning signs of violence and bullying, as well as to their responsibility to become actively involved in the prevention of violence or bullying before overt acts occur. The components of such an effort involve the following:

  • Following the principles and practices of “Educating the Whole ChildEngaging the Whole School: Guidelines and Resources for Social and Emotional Development and Learning (SEDL) in New York State –Adopted by the Board of Regents July 18, 2011.” District curriculum will emphasize developing empathy, tolerance and respect for others. (References: SEDL Guidelines,NYSED)
    • Learning about and identifying the early warning signs and precursor behaviors that may lead to violence or bullying
    • Gathering information about violence and bullying at school directly from students (through surveys and other mechanisms); analyzing and using the data gathered to assist in decision-making about programming and resource allocation
    • Establishing clear school wide and classroom rules about violence and bullying through a code of conduct developed in accordance with The Dignity Act and the revised regulations of the New York State Education Department, (CR 100.2(l))
    • Training adults in the school community to respond sensitively and consistently to bullying
    • Raising awareness among adults, through training, of the school experiences of marginalized student populations (as enumerated in the Definitions section), social stigma in the school environment, gender norms in the school environment, and strategies for disrupting bullying, intimidation, harassment or other forms of violence
    • Providing adequate supervision, particularly in less structured are as such as in the hallways, cafeteria, school bus and playground
    • Raising parental awareness and involvement in the prevention program and in addressing problems
    • Providing examples of positive behaviors that are age appropriate
    • Instituting policies and practices that create a positive school climate
    • Using educational opportunities or curriculum, including, if applicable, the Individual Educational Program (IEP), to address the underlying causes and impact of bullying

In order to implement this program, the Superintendent has established a District-wide Dignity for All Committee, comprised of teachers, counselors, administrators, students and parents, to work with school- level teams to assist the administration in developing and implementing specific procedures on early identification of bullying and other preventive strategies. In addition, the program will include reporting, investigating, remedying and tracking allegations of bullying.

Facilities Initiatives

The District has attempted to enhance the security of its facilities through a number of initiatives, including the following:

  • Sign-in procedures and use of visitor ID badges with visual contact.
    • Employees use faculty/staff ID badges.
    • Schools have developed a single point of access for visitors at each building.
    • Installation of interior and exterior surveillance cameras throughout our campuses.
    • Key card distribution to employees and students to gain building access through door readers.

Training, Drills, and Exercises Trauma Informed Drills

The district will perform emergency drills in a trauma informed manner. This means the district will avoid

using tactics in training and drills that may introduce or activate trauma, such as the use of props, actors, simulations, or other tactics intended to mimic a school shooting, incident of violence, or other emergency, or inclusion of developmentally or age-inappropriate content. These drills may inadvertently prompt a negative emotional or psychological response in staff or students because of previous exposure(s) to trauma.

Drill Procedures

The School District and board of cooperative educational services shall practice emergency response procedures under its District-Wide School Safety Plan and each of its Building-Level Emergency Response Plans (at least once every school year), where possible in cooperation with local law enforcement, emergency preparedness plan officials, and other first responders as follows:

  • Evacuation and Lockdown drills shall be conducted with students at least twelve times in each school year, eight of which required drills shall be held between September first and December thirty-first of each such year. Eight of all such drills shall be evacuation drills, four of which shall be through use of the fire escapes on buildings where fire escapes are provided or through the use of identified secondary means of egress, such as through different corridors, hallways, stairways and exit doors. Four of all such required drills shall be lock-down drills. The school district buildings may use temporary visual barriers to create a safe space during lockdown situations. Drills shall be conducted at different times of the school day. Students shall be instructed in the procedure to be followed in the event that a fire occurs during the lunch period or assembly, provided however, that such additional instruction may be waived where a drill is held during the regular school lunch period or assembly. Four additional drills shall be held in each school year during the hours after sunset and before sunrise in school buildings in which students are provided with sleeping accommodations.
    • At least two additional drills shall be held during summer school in buildings where summer school is conducted, and one of such drills shall be held during the first week of summer school.
    • One Emergency Dismissal drill shall be conducted to test emergency response procedures that require early dismissal, at a time not to occur more than 15 minutes earlier than the normal dismissal time.
    • Parents or persons in parental relation shall be notified at least one week prior to the drill.
    • Such drills shall test the usefulness of the communications and transportation system during emergencies.
    • The provisions of section 175.5(a) of this Title regarding the length of school day for State aid purposes shall not apply to school days in which less than the minimum number of hours is conducted because of an early dismissal pursuant to this subdivision.
    • Drills conducted during the school day with students present shall be conducted in a trauma-informed, developmentally, and age-appropriate manner and shall not include props, actors, or simulations or other tactics intended to mimic a school shooting or other act of violence or emergency. At the time that drills are conducted, students and staff shall be informed that the activities being conducted are a drill.
  • The District may choose to conduct tabletop exercises as a training resource and may include a discussion-based activity for staff in an informal classroom or meeting type setting to discuss their roles during an emergency and their responses to a sample emergency situation.

If the district choses to that opt to participate in full-scale exercises in conjunction with local and county emergency responders and preparedness officials that include props, actors, or simulations or other tactics intended to mimic a school shooting or other act of violence or emergency, such exercises shall not be conducted on a regular school day or when school activities such as athletics are occurring on school grounds. Such exercises shall not include students without written consent from parents or persons in parental relation.

Drill Notification for Persons in Parental Relation

Each building withing the School District shall be required to develop a schedule and process to notify parents, and persons in parental relation of scheduled drills which will include students. Building administrators are responsible for indicating in their Building-Level Emergency Response Plan the specific mechanism in which such persons will be informed and the timeframe in which this will occur prior to the drill being conducted. Drills held at the District or building level will be followed by a debriefing with participant stake holders to identify areas of success and opportunities for improvement. Building representatives will provide a report to the District-Wide Safety Team on drill status during regularly scheduled district-wide safety meetings.

Training

  • The District has established policies and procedures for annual multi-hazard school safety training for employees and students. Training includes:
  • An annual review of the building-level emergency response guides and general employee awareness training for building employees conducted by each principal or their designee.
    • The annual early go home drill to test evacuation and sheltering procedures.
    • Each school building conducts fire drills throughout the course of the year in compliance with the SED schedule for the purpose of familiarizing employees and students with emergency procedures.
    • Topics for training will include general security and safety measures, intervention strategies with difficult or challenging students, building security awareness, violence prevention, mental health, and reporting requirements and procedures.

Assignment of Responsibilities

In the execution of their duties, faculty, aides and monitors shall have responsibility for:

Faculty and Staff

  • Monitoring halls, lavatories, locker rooms, locker bays and similar areas, assuring orderly passage of students and pre-emptive intervention in potentially disruptive situations.
  • Observation of the general property, including the immediate outside area/perimeter of the building(s), with an obligation to report suspicious activity to district or building administration.
  • Overseeing study halls, cafeterias, or other areas of student assemblage with the goal of assisting to maintain an orderly, safe environment.

Chief Emergency Officer

The Chief Emergency Officer shall act as the liaison between the District and external agencies during times of emergency, as well as during plan development and maintenance. The Chief Emergency Officer is responsible for:

  • coordination of the communication between school staff, law enforcement, and other first responders;
  • leading the efforts of the district-wide school safety team in the completion and yearly update of the district-wide school safety plan and the coordination of the District-Wide School Safety Plan with the Building-Level Emergency Response Plans;
  • ensuring staff understanding of the District–Wide School Safety Plan;
  • ensuring the completion and yearly update of building-level emergency response plans for each school building;
  • assisting in the selection of security related technology and development of procedures for the use of such technology;
  • coordinating appropriate safety, security, and emergency training for district and school staff, including required training in the emergency response plan;
  • ensuring the conduct of required evacuation and lock-down drills in all district buildings as required by Education Law section 807;
  • ensuring the completion and yearly update of building-level emergency response plans by the dates designated by the commissioner.

School Safety Personnel

School safety personnel have a critical role in violence prevention. The following represents a description of the responsibilities of school safety personnel in schools:

Building Administrators

The Building Principal or their designee shall serve as the School Safety Representative for the school building. The responsibilities of the School Safety Representative are as follows:

  • Monitor hallways, entryways, exits and outside grounds during school hours for unusual occurrences or unauthorized visitors.
    • Act as building liaison in communicating building-level safety issues or concerns.
      • Represent the building on the District-Wide Health and Safety Committee.
      • Serve on Building-Level School Building Response Team.
      • Attend school safety meetings and be a resource on school safety and security issues for building employees.
      • Develop plans and strategies for building security, crime and violence prevention, safety planning and employee training.
      • Participate in school incident investigations.
      • Respond to all school emergencies as part of the building’s Emergency Response Plan.
      • Coordinate annual school safety multi-hazard training for students and employees. Multi-hazard training shall include crisis intervention, emergency response and management.
      • Employees and students shall receive annual training and drill practice on protocols for bomb threats, evacuation, sheltering, lockdown, relocate to hallway, fire emergency, bus drills and appropriate violence prevention strategies.
      • Designate procedure for informing substitute teaching and non-teaching employees of school safety protocols.
  • Comply and encourage compliance with all school safety and security policies and procedures established by the Board of Education.
    • Attend professional development activities on school safety and violence prevention.
    • All school safety personnel shall be provided with training on violence prevention and school safety. All training courses shall receive prior approval from the Superintendent of Schools or their designee.

Hiring and Screening of School Personnel

The following hiring and screening practices are followed for the hiring of all personnel:

Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Checks

For all employees hired by schools, the District completes a fingerprinting and criminal background check prior to appointment. No employee works in the District until fingerprint clearance is received. Employees include: any person receiving compensation for work from schools; any employee of a contracted service provider involved in direct student contact; any worker assigned to a school under a public assistance employment program (includes part-time employees and substitutes).

Reference Checks

References are thoroughly checked prior to extending an employment offer.

  • Reference check forms are used for instructional, non-instructional and transportation personnel.
    • Reference checks are completed and reviewed by the administrative team along with the application.
    • Prior to making a job offer to a prospective employee, the following mandatory questions are asked during reference checks with immediate and/or past supervisors:
      • Do you have knowledge of any violations of safety or security by (prospective employee) related to students, employees or others?
      • Why did (prospective employee) leave your employment? Or, do you know why (prospective employee) is leaving your employment?
      • Would you rehire (prospective employee)? If no, why not?

B. Early Detection of Potentially Violent Behaviors

The District has implemented policies and procedures related to the early detection of potentially violent behaviors. Each Building Principal is responsible for the dissemination of informative materials regarding the early detection of potentially violent behaviors, including but not limited to the identification of family, community, and environmental factors to teachers, administrators, school personnel, including school bus drivers and monitors, parents and other persons in parental relation to students of the school district, students and other persons deemed appropriate to receive such information. In addition, employees shall receive training on the District’s Code-of-Conduct and awareness training on violent behaviors, to be conducted or coordinated by the Superintendent of Schools.

Behavioral Assessment Team

The North Colonie Central School District utilizes a multi-disciplinary safety (behavioral) assessment team at the building-level which assess whether certain exhibited behaviors or actions need intervention or other support. All district staff are trained annually on the purpose and procedures of these teams. These teams meet periodically throughout the school year to discuss behavioral intervention techniques, suicide ideation, and any other topics deemed necessary.

The membership of the Safety Assessment Team is multi-disciplinary and provides an array of opinions and perspectives when evaluating a student. While an initial assessment may occur with just a mental health professional and a school administrator, follow-up steps (if necessary) should include personnel who are specific to the student. For example, if a student is involved with sports, you could include a coach, or you

may bring in teachers who are familiar with the student. Ideally, teams will include representatives who provide differing perspectives (e.g. mental health and administration) and professionals who are familiar with the at-risk student (e.g. teachers and coaches). An example team membership includes:

  • Building administrators
    • School-based mental health professional (Guidance counselor/school psychologist/school social worker)
    • Teacher/coach (Who is familiar with the student)
    • School resource officer
    • Behavior specialist
    • Others who may know the student.

This team can expand or contract as necessary, but functions best when it has multiple perspectives and experiences.

C. Hazard Identification

The District-wide School Safety Plan requires the identification of sites of potential emergency. The Building- level Emergency Response Team has identified both internal and external hazards that may warrant protective actions, such as the evacuation and sheltering of the school population.

The identification of sites of potential emergencies is located in each Building-level Emergency Response Plan. The location of potential hazards, such as: chemical storage, propane & motor fuel storage, potential fire hazards, electrical hazards, playground equipment, etc. are documented in a building and facility diagram. Site hazards are identified in the County/Town Hazard Assessment in each of the plans.

RESPONSE

A. Notification and Activation (Internal and External Communications)

  • In cases of a seriously violent incident, the District would use the procedure listed below to meet the requirements for notification and activation. A serious violent incident is an incident of violent criminal conduct that is, or appears to be, life threatening and warrants the evacuation of students and employees because of an imminent threat to their safety or health. This includes, but is not limited to, the use or threatened use of a firearm, explosive, bomb, incendiary device, chemical, or biological weapons, knives or other dangerous instrument capable of causing death or serious injury, riots, hostage-taking, or kidnapping.

Communications systems are:

Internal

Teachers and building employeesPublic address system, email, text message, other electronic communications
StudentsPublic address system, verbally from supervising teachers, other electronic communications
Superintendent of SchoolsPhone, email, radio, verbal communication, text message, other electronic communications
Buildings and GroundsPhone, radio, other electronic communications
Board of EducationPhone, E-mail, other electronic communications

External

New York State Police:911 or 518-783-3211
Town P.D.911 or 518-783-2744
Albany County Sheriff’s Office911 or 518-487-5400
Fire Department911
ParentsDistrict Website: https://www.northcolonie.org/ Director of Transportation – 518-785-9486 x 3749 Radio Stations WGNA 107.7FMWGY 810AMWYJB B95.5WRVE 99.5FM Television Stations Channel 6Spectrum NewsNews10Channel 13Fox23 TimeUnion.com ParentSquare

The Superintendent of Schools or designee would be responsible for conveying emergency information to educational facilities within the district. The Superintendent of Schools or designee would take appropriate steps to secure the following information about each educational agency within the District: Number of students, number of employees, transportation requirements associated with the evacuation of each facility and the business and home telephone numbers of key officials of each agency. Such information would be updated at least annually. Each such agency would report material changes to such data, in writing, within seven days of such change.

Information will be provided to parents, guardians or persons in parental relation to the students in the event of a violent incident or an early dismissal through the use of telephone by employees at the building-level using the student/parent directory and/or local and regional radio and TV stations. These are the same stations that are used to announce official delays or closings. This information is provided to parents through the website and building handbooks. Additionally, if an event occurs at the campus where students cannot be released immediately, a parent/community public information center may be established at another campus building.

In the event that this public information center is established, parents and community members are encouraged not to report to the main campus where a building may be in crisis, but rather gather at a designated meeting place where regular public information statements will be made by the Superintendent of Schools or designee.

B. Situational Responses – Multi-Hazard Response and Response Protocols Responses to Acts of Violence: Implied or Direct Threats

In the event of an act of violence or implied or direct threat, the district shall follow the following protocol:

  • Follow the classroom emergency procedures as directed by the Building Principal.
  • Use of employees trained in de-escalation or other strategies to diffuse the situation.
    • Inform Building Principal and School Resource Officer of implied or direct threat.
    • Determine level of threat with Superintendent of Schools/Designee.
    • Contact appropriate law enforcement agency, if necessary.
    • Monitor situation, adjust response as appropriate, and include the possible use of the Emergency Response Team.

Acts of Violence

In the event of serious acts of violence, district personnel shall follow the following protocol:

  • Follow the classroom emergency procedures as directed by the Building Principal and the procedures included in the Building-Level Emergency Response Plan.
    • Determine level of threat with Superintendent of Schools/Designee.
    • If the situation warrants, isolate the immediate area and evacuate if appropriate.
    • If necessary or threat is imminent, initiate lockdown procedures and contact appropriate law enforcement agency.
    • Monitor situation; adjust response as appropriate; if necessary, initiate early dismissal, sheltering, or evacuation procedures.

Response Protocols

The North Colonie Central School District has a comprehensive multi-hazard Emergency Response Plan. Such plan is updated annually. The school district utilizes the New York SafeSchools Emergency Response Plans and the required “SHELL” Card. The school district provides annual training to all staff and faculty on the school district’s emergency response actions, includes this informaton in each classroom’s emergency folder, and discusses it regularly throughout the year during drills, full-scale exercises, tabletop exercises, and faculty meetings.

Chain of Command

Kathy SkealsSuperintendent of Schools
Cybil HowardAssistant Superintendent for Business
Brian CraftDirector of Facilities
Matthew SteinDirector of Communications and Engagement
Lisa OstrowskiDirector of Food Services
Denise TowneDirector of Transportation
Ashley MillerCommunications Specialist
Julie ScrivenIT Director

Follow-up of the violent incident should include:

  1. Investigation of the incident by Building Principal and law enforcement, as necessary.
  2. Preparation of written accounts of the incident by all involved.
  3. Review of written accounts by the Building Principal for any disparities.
  4. Appropriate disciplinary action according to the code of conduct.
  5. Review of the entire incident by administration for future planning.
    1. What happened?
    1. Where did it happen?
    1. When did it happen?
    1. Why did it happen?
  • How did it happen?
    • How many individuals were involved?
    • Are the individuals associated with a group?
    • How could the incident have been prevented?
    • What warning signs were missed?
    • What can we do to prevent a future incident?
  • Counseling or other needed support for the victim(s), other students and staff involved in the incident.
  • Necessary reporting and parental notification.

Each school’s Building-Level emergency response plan lists building specific response actions to criminal acts, bomb threats, civil disturbance, intrusion, hostage taking, kidnapping, as well as technological and natural disasters.

Response Protocols

The district has a comprehensive multi-hazard School Safety Plan. This plan is updated annually. Copies of the plan are available in each Principal’s Office as well as in the Superintendent of Schools’s Office and the Central Office. Elements of the plan include:

  • Chain of Command and Incident Command Structure (ICS)
  • Other Relevant Parties
  • Emergency Planning Committee
  • Emergency Telephone Numbers
  • Telephone Tree
  • CPR/AED List
  • Fleet List
  • A list of hazardous incidents and a response plan for each (e.g. bomb threat, hostage, intruder, natural disaster, structural failure, et. al.)

Arrangements for Obtaining Emergency Assistance from Local Government

The administration shall use the following process in making arrangements for obtaining assistance during emergencies from emergency service organizations and local government agencies:

  • Superintendent of Schools/Designee in an emergency contacts dispatch point or 911 center for fire or EMS response.
  • Superintendent of Schools/Designee contacts highest-ranking local government official for notification and/or assistance.

Procedures for Obtaining Advice and Assistance from Local Government Officials

The Administration shall use the following protocol for obtaining advice and assistance from local government officials including the county or city officials responsible for implementation of Article 2-B of the Executive Law:

  • Superintendent of Schools/Designee in an emergency will contact emergency management coordinator and/or the highest-ranking local government official for obtaining advice and assistance.
  • The District has identified resources for an emergency from the following agencies: Red Cross, fire department, police, private industry, private individuals, religious organizations and others.

District Resources Available for Use in an Emergency

The district has created a comprehensive list of resources available during an emergency, including fuel sources, communications, food service capability, maintenance vehicle lists, and medical supplies and AED, CPR and First Aid trained staff. Specific information in each of these categories is contained in the Building- Level plans.

Procedures to Coordinate the Use of School District Resources and Manpower during Emergencies

The District shall use the following procedure to coordinate the use of school resources and manpower during emergencies:

  • The Building Principal of the affected facility shall contact the Superintendent of Schools or their designee and request the necessary manpower or resources.
  • The Superintendent of Schools or the highest-ranking person in the chain of command shall assess the request and allocate personnel and resources as necessary.

Protective Action Options

The district shall follow the following protocols in assessing the appropriate protective action option. The decision to cancel school, to dismiss early, shelter in place, or evacuate shall be made in cooperation with state and local emergency responders, as appropriate.

  • School Cancellation
    • Monitor any situation that may warrant a school cancellation – Superintendent of Schools/Safety Team.
    • Make determination – Superintendent of Schools.
    • Contact local media – Superintendent of Schools or Director of Communications & Governmental Relations.
  • School Delay
    • Monitor any situation that may warrant school delay – Building Administrators/ Superintendent of Schools/Safety Team.
    • If conditions warrant, delay opening of school.
    • Contact Transportation Supervisor to coordinate transportation issues.
    • Contact local media to inform parents of delayed opening.
    • Set up information center so that parents may make inquiries as to situation.
    • Provide for safety and security of employees and students who do come to school.
  • Early Dismissal
    • Monitor situation – Superintendent of Schools/Safety Team.
    • If conditions warrant, close school – Superintendent of Schools.
    • Contact Transportation Supervisor to arrange transportation.
    • Contact local media to inform parents of early dismissal.
    • Set up an information center so that parents may make inquiries as to the situation.
  • Retain appropriate personnel until all students have been returned home.
  • Evacuation (before, during and after school hours, including security during evacuation and evacuation routes)
    • Determine the level of threat – Superintendent of Schools or Designee.
    • Contact Transportation Supervisor to arrange transportation – Superintendent of Schools or Designee.
    • Clear all evacuation routes and sites prior to evacuation.
    • Evacuate all employees and students to pre-arranged evacuation sites.
    • Account for all student and employee population. Report any missing employees or students to Building Principal.
    • Make determination regarding early dismissal – Superintendent of Schools or Designee.
    • If determination was made to dismiss early, contact local media to inform parents of early dismissal.
    • Ensure adult supervision or continued school supervision/security.
    • Set up an information center so that parents may make inquiries as to the situation.
    • Retain appropriate personnel until all students have been returned home.
  • Sheltering Sites (internal and external)
    • Determine the level of threat – Superintendent of Schools/Incident Commander /Designee.
    • Determine location of sheltering depending on nature of incident.
    • Account for all students and employees. Report any missing employees or students to designee.
    • Determine other occupants in the building.
    • Make appropriate arrangements for human needs.
    • Take appropriate safety precautions.
    • Establish a Public Information Officer to provide information and current status of the situation to parents and other inquiring parties.
    • Retain appropriate personnel until all students have been returned home.

Remote Instruction Plan

North Colonie Central School District has created a remote instruction plan and intends to enact the plan in the case of an emergency school closure where appropriate. Please find the districts remote instruction plan in appendix 5 of this document.

RECOVERY

A.  Central Administration Support for Buildings

Each building has a Crisis Team that will deal with post incident details as outlined in the Procedural Guides for School Crisis manual. The Building or District Emergency Response Team(s) will oversee all post incident activities.

Depending on the type and scope of the emergency, district resources will be available and dispatched to the emergency site; including but not limited to: psychologists, counselors, nurses, administrators, food, vehicles, clerical support, maintenance/custodial services, buses and other district vehicles, substitute teachers/staff.

B.  Disaster Mental Health Services

In the event of an emergency, the Superintendent of Schools may determine that the assistance of Disaster Mental Health Resources is appropriate. In that event, the Superintendent shall coordinate with the Post- Incident Response Teams of the affected school(s) to implement such support.