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3432 - Emergencies

BOARD POLICY No. 3432

EMERGENCIES

The district is committed to having current safe school plans and procedures in place to maximize safety for all students and staff. A commitment to safety enables teaching and learning. The district and its schools shall develop comprehensive all-hazard emergency operations plans that address prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Drills
Drills are an essential component of safety planning. Drills teach students and staff basic functional responses to potential threats and hazards. The four functional responses are adaptable and can be applied to a variety of situations. Additionally, some threats or hazards may require the use of more than one basic functional response. Therefore, each school in the district will conduct at least one safety-related drill per month, including summer months when school is in session with students. Drill planning and implementation shall consider and accommodate the needs of all students.

Shelter-in-Place
Students will receive instruction so that in the case of a hazardous vapor release that doesn’t allow time to evacuate the campus, they will be able to remain inside, and take the steps necessary to eliminate or minimize the health and safety hazard.

Lockdowns
Students will receive instruction so that in the event of the breach of security of a school building or campus; staff, students and visitors will be able to take positions in secure enclosures.

Evacuations
Students will receive instruction so that in the event the school or district needs to be evacuated, due to threats such as fires or oil train spills, they will be able to leave the building in the shortest time possible and take the safest route possible to another school or facility.

The above safety-related drills will incorporate the use of the school mapping information system in at least one of the drills.

These safety-related drills may also incorporate an earthquake drill using the state-approved earthquake safety technique “drop, cover, and hold.”

The superintendent is directed to develop emergency evacuation procedures for each building.


Earthquakes
The board recognizes the importance of protecting staff, students and facilities in the event of an earthquake. Facilities shall be designed and maintained in a manner that recognizes the potential danger from such an occurrence. Likewise, staff must be prepared to take necessary action to protect students and staff from harm.

The superintendent shall establish procedures should an earthquake occur while school is in session.

Bomb Threats
The superintendent shall establish procedures for action in the event that any threat is received toward the school by telephone, letter, orally or by other means.

Emergency School Closure
When weather conditions or other circumstances make it unsafe to operate schools, the superintendent shall determine whether schools should be started late, closed for the day or transportation provided only on emergency routes. Those decisions will be communicated through community media resources pursuant to a plan developed by the superintendent or designee.

Pandemic/Epidemic
The board recognizes that a pandemic outbreak is a serious threat that could affect students, staff and the community. The superintendent or a designee will serve as a liaison between the school district and local health officials. The district liaison, in consultation with local health officials, will ensure that a pandemic/epidemic plan exists in the district and establish procedures to provide for staff and student safety during such an emergency.

When an emergency within a school or its surrounding area necessitates evacuation and/or total or partial closure of the schools within the district, staff will be responsible for aiding in the safe evacuation of the students within the endangered school or its surrounding area.

The superintendent will establish procedures for the emergency closure of a building or department.

Legal References:
Board Policy 4310 District Relationships with Law Enforcement and other Government Agencies
RCW 28A.320.125 Safe school plans — Requirements — Duties of school districts, schools, and educational service districts — Reports — Drills — Rules
RCW 19.27.110 International fire code — Administration and enforcement by counties, other political subdivisions and municipal corporations
Adopted: July 16, 2002
Revised: November 20, 2018
Revised: December 13, 2022

WALLA WALLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS • 364 South Park St. • Walla Walla, WA 99362 • Phone: 509-527-3000 • Fax: 509.529.7713

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