Q1:What are some of the protocols for any sort of emergencies that happen? (How we can apply them safely)

A: Protocols are given to us; the state dictates how many drills to implement and practice. Each district looks at what applies or works for each district according to each district’s policies and procedures. They may have implemented possibly one more here or there, depending on what their protocols are. Some involve police involvement; two lockdown drills must have police involvement, and our fire drills must have fire department involvement. We have a new drill called the cardiac response team drill, which is basically more of a team knowing what to do and using the defibrillator in case of a heart attack. We have paramedics involved for these drills.

Q2: What should someone do if they are in the hallways or bathrooms, or even the lunchrooms (auditorium) when an emergency happens?

A: Every once in a while, they show you a presentation called Cougars Can to teach students this information. What happens if an emergency were to happen if you were in the lunch or the hallway? It was important information we felt we needed to share with students. It’s very specific in what to do when it happens in a lunchroom or hallway. If you were in a hallway during a fire drill, you would leave through the nearest exit. When doing relocation drills, you meet with your section wing. They are supposed to go to their second hour class number. If students are in a lockdown drill in a hallway, go to the closest class to you. If you are still in the hallway, you need to leave the building. The two relocation centers are Aux Sable Middle School and Charles Reed Elementary School. [This is where] PE stuents go and where all the students who left the building go.

Q3: Who decides how many drills we have per year?

A: As a state, they have their expectations they have to meet and communicate with other schools. You need to have four lockdown drills and three fire drills, for example. The schools have their safety committees within the building, and we say do you think three fire drills are acceptable, or is that enough to have? As a district, we dictate whether we add more drills. They can not add anything less than what the state dictates.

Q4: Where should students go if they have the opportunity to escape the school safely?

A: In this case, if you do have to leave the building, we have to make sure we have to account for all the students. We tell parents that if their student is that your kid communicates with you Does that make sense. that they are home, and what happens. But as a parent, call the school to tell them that the student is at home, so that as a school, we can see who left home and is accounted for. 

Q5:  What should parents be expected to do if an emergency happens?

A: We ask our parents to trust the procedures we have in our building. Trust the process we have and trust in our procedures, and call us, and they will be updated on the website.

Q6: What do you think you would want to improve in our school drills?

A: The only thing we can improve on is feedback on our current drills. Give us an update, tell us what was working and what was not working, and that’s the only way we can improve. Speak your mind.  If you see anything that could be better, we are open to ideas.