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• Introduction
• Section I: General Considerations and Planning Guidelines
  - A. Purpose
  - B. Identification of School Teams
  - C. Concept of Operations
  - D. Plan review and public comment
• Section II: Risk Reduction/Prevention and Intervention
  - A. Prevention and intervention Strategies
  - B. Early Detection of Potentially Violent Behaviors
  - C. Hazard Identification
• Section III: Response
  - A. Notification and Activation (Internal and External Communication)
  - B. Situational Responses
• Section IV: Recovery
  - A. District Support for Buildings
  - B. Disaster Mental Health Services
• Suggested Appendices
  - Appendix 1
  - Appendix 2
  - Appendix 3
  - Appendix 4
  - Appendix 5
  - Appendix 6
  - Appendix 7

Introduction
Emergencies and violent incidents in school districts are critical issues that must be addressed in an expeditious and effective manner. 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 the district 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. Districts stand at risk from a wide variety of acts of violence, natural, and manmade disasters. To address these threats, the State of New York has enacted the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (Save) law. Project Save is a comprehensive planning effort that addresses prevention, response, and recovery with respect to a variety of emergencies in each school district and its schools.

The HFM BOCES, in coordination with the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District, supports the SAVE Legislation and intends to facilitate the planning process. The Superintendent of Schools encourages and advocates on-going district-wide cooperation and support of Project SAVE. [top]

Section I: General Considerations and Planning Guidelines

A. Purpose
The Fonda-Fultonville Central District-wide School Safety Plan was developed pursuant to Commissioner's Regulation 155.17. At the direction of the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Board of Education, the Superintendent of Fonda-Fultonville Central School District appointed a District-wide School Safety Team and charged it with the development and maintenance of the District-wide School Safety Plan. [top]

B. Identification of School Teams
The Fonda-Fultonville Central School District has created a District-wide School Safety Team
consisting of, but not limited to, representatives of the School Board, students, teachers, administrators, parent organizations, school safety personnel and other school personnel. [top]

C. Concept of Operations

• The District-wide School Safety Plan shall be directly linked to the individual Building-level Emergency Response Plans for each school building. Protocols reflected in the District-wide School Safety Plan will guide the development and implementation of individual Building-level Emergency Response Plans.
• 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.
• Upon the activation of the School Emergency Response Team, the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee will be notified and, where appropriate, local emergency officials will also be notified.
• Efforts may be supplemented by County and State resources through existing protocols.  [top]

D. Plan review and public comment

• This plan shall be reviewed and maintained by the District-wide School Safety Team and reviewed on an annual basis on or before July 1 of each year.
• Pursuant to Commissioner's Regulation 155.17 (e)(3), this plan will be made available for public comment 30 days prior to its adoption. The district-wide and building-level plans may be adopted by the School Board only after at least one public hearing that provides for the participation of school personnel, parents, students and any other interested parties. The plan must be formally adopted by the Board of Education.
• While linked to the District-wide School Safety Plan, Building-level Emergency Response Plans shall be confidential and shall not be subject to disclosure under Article 6 of the Public Officers Law or any other provision of law, in accordance with Education Law Section 2801-a.
• Full copies of the District-wide School Safety Plan and any amendments will be submitted to the New York State Education Department within 30 days of adoption. Building-level Emergency Response Plans will be supplied to both local and State Police within 30 days of adoption. [top]

Section II: Risk Reduction/Prevention and Intervention

A. Prevention and intervention Strategies:
Program Initiatives

• Mentor teacher programs. One teacher assigned to each grade level as a resource and mentor.
• State Police Safe Schools Programs training given at Superintendents conference day in September. State Police Rep in school 5 times a month for follow-up
• A 24-hour hotline for emergencies and concerns is established for all students and staff.

Training, Drills and Exercises

Three levels of annual multi-hazard school training will be considered in this plan:

• A. responder training for members of the Incident Response and Post-Incident Response teams conducted by response agencies and/or the BOCES HSRM staff;
• B. general staff awareness training conducted during Superintendent’s Conference Day by response agencies and/or the BOCES HSRM staff; and
• C. general student awareness training of emergency response procedures conducted by building staff.

Each year the District-Wide School Safety Team and/or Building-Level Teams will consider appropriate training for each of the groups listed above.

• We run two lockdown drills prior to December of each and run an evacuation drill before the end of the school year in June.
• Two years ago we conducted table-top exercise with all staff to discuss emergency procedures.
• After each drill we have a district wide meeting to discuss the drill and make changes if necessary.

Implementation of School Security
Safety Officers

• We have a school resource /safety officer from the State Police who is in the district three days a week.
• Teachers are assigned hall duty during every period of the day. They walk the halls throughout the period to address any concerns and report any problems to the principal.

Security Devices

• Surveillance cameras placed on buses
• Photo ID cards are issued to staff and badges to visitors, plus a sign in and sign out log.
• One entry for everyone, all other doors locked during the school day. [top]

Vital Educational Agency Information
In the case of a school district, maintaining certain information about each educational agency located in the school district, including information on:

• School population,
• Number of staff,
• Transportation needs and
• Business and home telephone numbers of key officials of each such educational agency. [top]

B. Early Detection of Potentially Violent Behaviors
Strategies for improving communication among students and between students and staff and reporting of potentially violent incidents, such as the establishment of:
The district recognized that communication is a vital key in the prevention and intervention of violence in schools. As such, the district continues to develop and investigate various strategies regarding violence prevention and intervention. To that end, the district maintains or is exploring programs in the following areas.

• We have a mentor teacher with available office hours for consultation for each grade level, along with peer leaders at each grade level.
• We also have a 24-hour hotline to report possible violent situations.
• We require all staff to attend a violence prevention and intervention course, which addresses early signs of potentially violent students.
• DARE
• We send out newsletters and pamphlets to parents/guardians with articles addressing bullying, conflict resolution and other issues. We include important contact numbers to address all concerns. [top]

C. Hazard Identification

Hazard Sites

• The process for identifying the sites,
  Information provided by district staff, residents and the County Emergency Management Coordinator (Gary Nestle).
• The location of potential sites, and
• The potential internal or external hazards or emergency situations identified [top]

Section III Response

A. Notification and Activation (Internal and External Communication)

Policies and procedures for contacting appropriate law enforcement officials in the event of a violent incident.

• The person in charge (Incident Commander) will decide if the level of the incident classifies it as a “violent incident” (consistent with the definition of such an incident as defined in the district’s Code of Conduct). If appropriate, the Incident Commander will call 911.
• In a crisis situation involving a violent incident, school staff should call 911 and notify the Incident Commander. A system for informing all educational agencies within a school district of a disaster
• Educational agencies within the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District (non-public schools, registered daycare centers, etc.) will be contacted in an emergency via telephone. If telephone contact is not possible, a contact person will be sent to the school if possible.
• Procedures to contact parents, guardians or persons in parental relation to the students in the event of a violent incident or an early dismissal
• Parents/Guardians will be contacted via telephone by staff at the building level using the student/parent telephone directory.
• In some cases, the public/parents will also be notified via media outlets. [top]

B. Situational Responses

Multi-Hazard Responses
Responses to Acts of Violence: Implied or Direct Threats
This issue is addressed on pages 9-15 of the Code of Conduct. The district utilizes desk reference cards in each room for important directional information when a response action is needed

Acts of Violence
This issue is addressed on pages 9-15 of the Code of Conduct. The district utilizes desk reference cards in each room for important directional information when a response action is needed

Response Protocols
We have incorporated the new homeland security guidelines into our plans. It addresses the color code systems as well as establishes definitions for lockout, lockdown, sheltering and evacuation. Our responses were amended based on the new guidelines. These guidelines are confidential and we respectfully will not submit them at this time.

Bomb Threats
Procedures and Guidelines are included in the Building-Level School Safety Plans for the Fonda-Fultonville Central School. We use the NYS police guidelines for response to bomb threats

Hostage Taking
Procedures and Guidelines are included on pages 9-20 of the Building-Level School Safety Plans for the Fonda-Fultonville Central School.

Intrusions
Procedures and Guidelines are included on pages 9-20 of the Building-Level School Safety Plans for the Fonda-Fultonville Central School.
.
Kidnappings
Procedures and Guidelines are included on pages 9-20 of the Building-Level School Safety Plans for the Fonda-Fultonville Central School.

Arrangements for Obtaining Emergency Assistance from Local Government Officials
Policies and procedures for contacting appropriate law enforcement officials in the event of a violent incident.

• The person in charge (Incident Commander) will decide if the level of the incident classifies it as a “violent incident” (consistent with the definition of such an incident as defined in the district’s Code of Conduct). If appropriate, the Incident Commander will call 911.
• In a crisis situation involving a violent incident, school staff should call 911 and notify the Incident Commander. Procedures for Obtaining Advice and Assistance from Local Government Officials Procedures 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.
• The person in charge (Incident Commander) will decide if the level of the incident warrants obtaining emergency assistance. If appropriate, the Incident Commander will call 911.
• In a crisis situation, school staff should call 911 and notify the Incident Commander.

District Resources Available for Use in an Emergency
The identification of district resources which may be available for use during an emergency, including the identification of personnel and other resources

Details of Resources are found in the Building-Level Plans

Agencies authorized to Request Use of Resources:

Identification of the staff members assigned to provide assistance during emergencies.

Protective Action Options

School cancellation
Superintendent of Schools (Dr. James Hoffman) or designee will announce the closing of school. Communication will be sent to all officials needed to proceed with the cancellation.

Early dismissal

• 1) Preliminary Procedures
  a) An annual request is made of parents of K-12 students to notify the school district where their child should go in the event that they are not home during school hours. Drivers maintain a list for their information in the event of an emergency
  b) Drivers will be alerted and substitutes contacted by the Transportation Director as to the possibility of an early or emergency dismissal.
   
• 2) Dismissal of Bus Students
  a) The main office will notify the Transportation Director of the decision to take pupils home.
  b) The Transportation Director will notify drivers and required substitutes.
  c) Bus pupils will remain in classroom or other designated areas until buses are spotted.
  d) Personnel will assume regular duties for bus dismissal.
  e) The Transportation Director will remain at his station until all buses have completed their runs and returned. The Transportation Director will notify the main office when all runs have been completed. (Estimated length of longest run is approximately one hour and ten minutes.
   
• 3) Dismissal of Walking Students
  a) Walking students will be dismissed via an announcement from the main office.

Evacuation (before, during and after school hours, including security during evacuation and evacuation routes)
Procedures and Guidelines are included in the Building-Level School Safety Plans for the Fonda-Fultonville Central School.

Sheltering sites (internal and external)
Procedures and Guidelines are included in the Building-Level School Safety Plans for the Fonda-Fultonville Central School. [top]

Section IV: Recovery

A. District Support for Buildings

All the district’s manpower and resources will be available to one of our sites that has endured and emergency. Mental health counseling, building security and restoration will be items of primary focus. Response and recovery will be a district goal.

Besides building security and restoration, the strategies will also include damage assessment, relocation and continuation of the educational process. A post-incident response critique, the notes from the incident command team and lessons learned will be assessed. Plans to mitigate the likelihood of occurrence or impact, if the incident does occur again, will be reviewed. If possible, efforts will be made to improve district facilities resulting in them being more resistant to suffering similar or worse damage.  [top]

B. Disaster Mental Health Services

The district understands how an emergency can have a major effect on the well being of students, staff and community at large. The district will coordinate resource with County Mental Health Services and the Post-incident Crisis Response Team. [top]

Suggested Appendices

Appendix 1:
Listing of all school buildings covered by the district-wide school safety plan with addresses of buildings, and contact names and telephone numbers for building staff. [top]

Appendix 2:
Copies of all building-level emergency response plans. Identification of local and state law enforcement agencies where building-level plans are filed. [top]

Appendix 3:
Memoranda of Understanding or agreements relevant to implementation of the district-wide plan and, where appropriate, building-level emergency response plans. [top]

Appendix 4:
Policies and procedures for working with the Media

Principal/Administrator Information

• Note who is assigned to be the Public Information Officer (PIO) for your district/building. Refer all media inquiries to that person.
• Be familiar with the media guidelines for this event, including on-site policies for the media and locations where media representatives may be present. Media guidelines should be obtained from the PIO.
• Media interaction may be handled by: Dr. James Hoffman or Designee
• A school/district PIO
• A law enforcement/emergency response agency PIO; or
• Jointly, by both PIOs listed above

Public Information Officer Information

1. Incident Commander and PIO functions may be handled by two different persons.
2. The school district PIO may work under, over or in cooperation with law enforcement and emergency response agency PIOs.
3. The PIO should set forth clear media guidelines and communicate these guidelines to the media in writing.
4. The PIO should use a press release template for both a news conference script and/or a written press release.
5. The PIO should receive information and forms from the Incident Commander and other key function personnel on a regular basis throughout the emergency event.

Staff Information

• Staff should not talk to media during an emergency event, unless given permission by the PIO. Safety and security issues may be compromised.
• Likewise, Staff should not allow students to be interviewed during an emergency event unless given permission by the PIO.

Student/Parent/Guardian Information

1. Students, Parents and Guardians should be mindful of the situation during an emergency event when approached by the media for an interview. Safety and security issues may be compromised.
2. Students should not communicate with the media via cellular phone or other type of communication when on campus during the following events:
   a) Lockdown b) Shelter In Place c) Evacuation
   d) Bomb/Biological Threats e) Events Involving Acts of Violence. [top]

Appendix 5:
NYS Police Bomb Threat Telephone Card

Appendix 6:
SED Bomb Threat/Serious Incident Report Form

Appendix 7:
Lieutenant Governor’s Brochure “Protect Your Child From Violence, A Resource For Parents”
 

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