NORTHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION FILE CODE: 6114
Northfield, New Jersey X Monitored
X Mandated
Policy X Other Reasons
EMERGENCIES AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
The Superintendent shall direct the development of plans, procedures and mechanisms for responding to emergencies and crises in the schools that threaten human life and property. He/she shall consult with law enforcement agencies, health and social services agencies and emergency management planners in developing these plans and shall ensure that they provide for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the school population as well as supportive services for staff, students and their families.
Plans and procedures shall include these elements:
- Cooperation with local government agencies in developing and carrying out a school/community disaster plan that includes procedures for building lockdowns when necessary;
- Mechanisms for the orderly evacuation of buildings in case of fire or other emergencies, ensuring mechanisms include methods of evacuation for those unable to use the general means of egress;
- Means to provide as much protection as possible for students at school and on their way to and from school;
- Training in individual self-protection and survival techniques for students and staff;
- Communicating specific instructions to students and staff so that the school emergency plan may be carried out with the greatest possible speed and safety.
The Superintendent shall develop and provide an inservice training program for school staff to enable them to recognize and appropriately respond to crises, consistent with the district’s plans, procedures and mechanisms for managing crises. The inservice program shall be reviewed and updated annually.
School Safety and Security Plan
The board directs the Superintendent and his or her designees to develop and implement comprehensive plans, procedures, and mechanisms that provide for safety and security in the schools. Written plans and procedures and mechanisms shall, at a minimum, provide for:
- The protection of the health, safety, security and welfare of the school population;
- The prevention of, intervention in, response to and recovery from emergency and crisis situations;
- The establishment and maintenance of a climate of civility;
- Support services for staff, students and their families; and
- The development of protocols for communicating the individual needs of each student with a disability with respect to fire drills and school security plans.
The Superintendent shall consult with law enforcement agencies, health and social services provider agencies, emergency management planners, and school and other community resources, as appropriate, in the development of the district’s plans, procedures, and mechanisms for school safety and security.
The plans, procedures, and mechanisms shall be consistent with the format and content established by the Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force and the Commissioner. The plans, procedures, and mechanisms shall be reviewed annually and updated as appropriate.
The Superintendent shall disseminate a copy of the school safety and security plan to its employees. In addition:
- New employees shall receive a copy of the school safety and security plan, as appropriate, within 60 days of the effective date of their employment;
- All employees shall be notified in writing, as appropriate, regarding updates and changes to the school safety and security plan;
- All employees shall attend an in-service training program designed to allow all district board of education employees to recognize and appropriately respond to safety and security concerns, including emergencies and crises, in a manner consistent with the district board of education’s plans, procedures and mechanisms for school safety and security.
Fire Drills and School Security Drills
Fire drills shall be held at least once each month for all students. The first emergency evacuation drill of each school year shall be conducted within 10 days of the beginning of classes. Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted at different hours of the day or evening, during the changing of classes, when the school is at assembly, during the recess or gymnastic periods, or during other times to avoid distinction between drills and actual fires. Outdoor assembly areas shall be designated and shall be located a safe distance from the building being evacuated as to avoid interference with the fire department operations. The assembly areas shall be arranged to keep each class separate to provide accountability of all individuals.
Regular courses of instruction in accident prevention and fire prevention shall be given and shall be adapted to the understanding of the several grades and classes in the schools.
There shall also be at least one school security drill per month. This includes any summer months during which the school is open for instructional programs. A school security drill shall be conducted within the first 15 days of the beginning of the school year. A law enforcement officer shall be present at a minimum of one school security drill each school year in order to make recommendations on any improvements or changes to school security drill procedures that the officer may deem advisable.
A “school security drill” means an exercise, other than a fire drill, to practice procedures that respond to an emergency situation including, but not limited to, a bomb threat, non-fire evacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situation and that is similar in duration to a fire drill.
The building principal shall provide emergency responders with a friendly notification at least 48 hours prior to holding a security drill.
All full-time employees shall receive training on school safety and security that includes instruction on school security drills. Training shall also address the unique needs of students with disabilities and ensure full-time employees are aware of anticipated supports for those students during a safety and security event, including mobility, medical, social, communication, or other needs provided under the students’ individualized education plans, individualized health care plans and/or 504 plan(s). New staff members shall receive this training within 60 days of the commencement of that staff member’s employment. The annual training provided to employees shall be conducted collaboratively by the district and emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services personnel, in order to identify weaknesses in school safety and security policies and procedures and to increase the effectiveness of emergency responders.
Required Drills
- The district shall be required to conduct a minimum of two drills per year for each of the following drills:
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- Active shooter;
- Evacuation (non-fire);
- Bomb threats;
- Lockdowns.
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Students are not required to participate in two of the eight mandated drills.
Reporting
By June 30th of each year the Superintendent shall submit to the executive county superintendent an annual “Statement of Assurance” report on the forms provided by the Department of Education.
Records
Information on a student’s unique mobility, sensory, medical, social, communication, emotional, regulatory, and decision-making needs in the event of a fire drill, school security drill, or actual emergency shall be maintained in the student record. Such a record shall indicate whether the student is able to safely and fully participate in drills without additional supports, or if any accommodations are needed.
Emergency Closings; Delayed Openings
The Superintendent is authorized by the board to close the schools, open them late or dismiss them early in hazardous weather or in other extraordinary circumstances which might endanger the health or safety of students or school employees.
Each year, parents/guardians, students, and staff members shall be informed in advance of how they shall be notified in event of emergency closings. Parents/guardians shall be required to make alternative arrangements for their students in case no one is home to receive a child after an unscheduled early closing.
Adopted:
NJSBA Review/Update: July, 2024
Readopted:
Key Words
Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness, Civil Defense, Disasters, Fire Drills, Security Drills, Bomb Threats, Safety and Security Plan
Legal References: N.J.S.A. 18A:6‑2 Instruction in accident and fire prevention
N.J.S.A. 18A:11‑1 General mandatory powers and duties
N.J.S.A. 18A:40‑12 Closing schools during epidemic
N.J.S.A. 18A:41-1 et seq. Fire drills and fire protection
N.J.S.A. 18A:41-7 School Safety and Security Training
N.J.S.A. 18A:54‑20 Powers of board (county vocational schools)
N.J.S.A. App. A:9-64 et seq. New Jersey Domestic Security Preparedness Act
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.1et seq. School Safety and Security
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-6.3 Reporting students or staff members to law enforcement agencies
N.J.A.C. 6A:26-12.2 Policies and procedures for school facility operation
N.J.A.C. 8:57-1.9 Reporting of diseases by health officers
A Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement between Education and Law Enforcement Officials
International Fire Code, New Jersey Edition, 2006; Section 408 Use and Occupancy-Related Requirements (see particularly: Section 408.3.1).
School Safety and Security Plans, Minimum Requirements
Possible
Cross References: *1410 Local units
*2210 Administrative leeway in absence of board policy
*3541.33 Transportation safety
*4131/4131.1 Staff development; inservice education/visitations/conferences
*4231/4231.1 Staff development; inservice education/visitations/conferences
*5125 Student Records
5141.6 Crisis intervention
*6111 School calendar
*6112 School day
*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.