At the start of the new school year, ACPS announced that we had begun the process of changing the procedures and language used during major emergencies. This will include the use of new terminology. For instance, “secure the building” will replace “lock-in,” as explained in the New Emergencies Procedures FAQ.
The new emergency response procedures are being implemented throughout the 2017-18 school year, allowing time for staff and students to be trained, to become familiar with the new language, and to practice using the new procedures and language through facilitated drills.
At its September 28, 2017 Board Meeting, the School Board approved inclusion of the new terminology and empowered staff to implement the new procedures through revisions to Policy EB: School Crisis, Emergency Management, and Medical Emergency Response Plan, and Policy EBCA: Emergency Preparedness Drills.
We are now moving into the next phase of the process, during which school and Central Office staff will be trained. Later this month, designated staff from each school and Central Office will participate in a “train-the-trainer” program. During this two-day training, they will gain a deeper understanding of why and how the new procedures will be implemented. They will also participate in exercises that simulate both the current and new procedures. The staff who will participate in this month’s training have already been identified and all spaces have been filled.
Participants who complete both days of the training and successfully complete the online certification program will then be equipped to help train staff at their facility through sessions to be offered at a later date.
During this phase of the year-long implementation, we are also exploring options and potential technologies for communicating with individuals on site during a major emergency. This may include an emergency text alert system.
We will continue to update you as we transition to the new emergency procedures. If you have any questions, please contact us.