School Safety and Emergency Response Resources

An Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is a document that outlines administrative command structures, operational plans, and threat/hazard-specific plans for a variety of safety and emergency responses. The La Grande School District EOP was developed in partnership with local emergency response agencies and state specialists and follows the suggested FEMA framework. The Emergency Operation Plan help guide district actions during a variety of natural or human emergencies. Some of the emergencies addressed in the plan include: 

• Severe Storm
• Gas Leaks
• Utility Disruption or Mechanical Failure
• Dangerous Person Outside a School
• Medical Emergencies

Responses to these emergencies follow standard protocols recommended by local law enforcement and the I Love You Guys Foundation (a leader in school emergency response resources). 

Additionally, the EOP addresses how we reunify students with families after an emergency and additional support services provided during and after the emergency to provide the best outcome for all stakeholders. 

Because no two emergencies are the same the EOP is a framework and not a specific step-by-step outline. During emergencies, administrators and emergency agency personnel (as needed) work to determine the best plan for resolving situations quickly and efficiently and communicating to our stakeholders to keep everyone safe.  

La Grande School District trains staff and students on the following safety and emergency response protocols:

• EVACUATION: Students and staff are asked to quickly exit the building as it has been deemed unsafe to remain. This is, generally, the result of a fire, mechanical failure, gas leak, etc. Students and staff are asked to go to designated locations and check-in with administration to assure all students accounted for.
   
• HOLD IN CLASS: Hold in classroom is the most basic of movement restriction action(s). The intent is to maintain sterile hallways allowing school staff/administration, law enforcement and/or fire/EMS to respond to a situation without being inhibited by students, staff, and/or visitors.
   
• SHELTER IN PLACE: This command is similar to a HOLD IN CLASS, but, generally, given when their is a natural disaster that makes the classroom the safest location to stay until the emergency has passed. A SHELTER IN PLACE may be used to respond to a hazardous chemical spill, severe weather, an initial response to flooding, etc. In may of these cases, the school becomes a "shelter" from community-wide issues.
   
• LOCK OUT: In a LOCK OUT, the intent is to keep space between students/staff and an identified Person of Concern (POC) outside the school building. In an LOCK OUT, generally, law enforcement or emergency response staff are working with school district staff to make sure no one enters our campuses to disrupt operations or engage with students. Students and staff can maintain movement between classes, but movements in or out of campus may be restricted.
   
• LOCKDOWN: In a LOCKDOWN, the Person of Concern (POC) is usually on the inside of a school building attempting to commit crimes. However, an LOCKDOWN can be called if the POC is outside the school but close enough that movement within the building could be dangerous. Students movements are restricted to the classroom, doors locked/blocked, lights off, and attempting to remain as quiet as possible. Emergency services are directly involved and working with district staff to resolve quickly and efficiently.
   
• RUN/HIDE/FIGHT: This command is given only when there is an active threat in a school building. Student and staff are trained to make the best decision to RUN/HIDE/FIGHT based on age, maturity, proximity to threat, and location when command is given. La Grande SD encourages staff and students to RUN or HIDE to get as far away from the threat as possible for their safety. FIGHT should only be engaged as a last resort to a direct threat in their immediate location.

ESSENTIAL NOTE: When the RUN/HIDE/FIGHT command is given, law enforcement will respond in force and consider anyone in the halls or in possession of a weapon a threat to student and staff safety. Parents and private citizens who come to the school to support students during this active threat may risk injury or death as law enforcement will be seeking to first neutralize any threat at the school site.

While the school staff has been trained and continue to receive guidance on how best to help students, the best advocate for your child is YOU! Ask your child's teacher or a school administrator about the plans the school has in place for emergencies such as fires, blizzards, bomb threats and armed intruders. You can also ask how often school officials and safety experts meet to discuss safety procedures. While some schools may hesitate to share all parts of their plans and strategies, make yourself aware of the information available to you.

A school safety checklist for families may include:

• Review with your child the family emergency plan, including reunification and communication options.
• Provide the school with information about any unique needs your children may have.
• Advise the school if your child has special needs during a crisis or drill. This may include the need for assistance with mobility or communication during an evacuation or additional support due to anxiety or prior traumatic experiences.
• Routinely check your students backpack for items that should not come to school and would be considered dangerous to themselves or others.
• Work with school staff and counselors if you are concerned about choices, actions, peers or situations your student is participating in and need additional support and experience to address.
• Consider having back up/extra medication or other items at your child's school in case there is an emergency where your child needs to remain in the building for a longer period of time.
• Provide the school and your child's teacher with up-to-date contact information for family or friends who can pick up and care for your child if you are unavailable. Be sure to update this information as needed throughout the school year.
• Learn about the school's plan for emergency response.
• (Reference: healthychildren.org - School Safety During an Emergency of Crisis)

It is important to talk with your child and to provide emotional support in the aftermath of a crisis situation. Invite your child to talk, but wait for your child to accept the invitation. Some children may not express their concerns verbally. Be aware of signs that children might be in distress, such as changes in behavior, anxiety, sleep problems, acting out, problems at school or with academic work. Recognize that many children may hide their distress, at times in order to protect you and other caregivers.

• Very young children: Provide concrete explanations of what happened and how it will affect them ( a tree branch fell on electrical wires and that is why the lights do not work, for example). Let children know there are many people who are working to help them and their community to recover after a disaster (such as repair crews for the electric company, or firefighters, police, paramedics, or other emergency personnel). Share with them all of the steps that are being taken to keep them safe; children will often worry that a disaster will happen again.
• Older children: They will likely want, and benefit from, more information about the disaster and recovery efforts. No matter what age, start by asking children what they already know and what questions they have and use that as a guide for the conversation.Limit media coverage of the disaster—if children are going to watch media coverage, discourage watching it live. Instead, try to preview the coverage and then watch along with them to answer questions and help them process the information.
   

How to help children cope

After a disaster or crisis, help them learn how to cope effectively. Although it is not useful for adults to appear overwhelmed by the event, it is helpful for them to share some of their feelings and what they are doing to deal with those feelings. Children cannot be expected to cope with troubling feelings if no one models effective coping. Allow children to "own" their feelings.

• Let your child know that it is all right to be upset about something bad that happened. Use the conversation to take the opportunity to talk about other troubling feelings your child may have. A child who feels afraid is afraid, even if adults think the reason for the fear is unnecessary.

• If you feel overwhelmed or hopeless, look for some support from other adults before reaching out to your child. See these articles for more information:

  • Taking Care of Yourself During Disasters: Info for Parents

  • When Things Aren't Perfect: Caring for Yourself & Your Children

• Don't feel obligated to give a reason for what happened. Although adults often feel the need to provide a reason for why someone committed such a crime, many times they do not know. It is okay to tell your child that you do not know why at this time such a crime, for example, was committed.

• Allow children to express their regrets over "secondary losses" (without accusing them of being selfish) and help them figure out ways to minimize the impact or find alternatives. Children are not only trying to deal with the disaster, but with everything else that follows. They may have to relocate, at least temporarily, and could be separated from friends or unable to attend the same school. Parents may have less income and the change in finances may impact their ability to participate in activities they enjoyed or travel to visit family out of town.

(Reference: healthychildren.org - Talking with Children About Disasters)

Additional Resource: National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers

La Grande School District recognizes that parents and community partners want to support school safety and be informed on issues or situations that put student and staff safety at risk. La Grande School District works collaboratively with agency partners to share information that best serves the public good and is in alignment to federal or state law and school board policy regarding public disclosers. Federal law does not allow the district from releasing student names and personally identifiable information to the public (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99).  

In an ongoing or extended emergency or safety threat, the district will update parents and the public through district webpages, facebook accounts, email, and Thrillshare. 

La Grande School District contracts with the Union County Sheriff's Department and InterMountain ESD for school resource officer services. Our district enjoys exceptional service and support from Deputy Hernandez and Deputy Humphries.  Our school resource officers work with district staff to provide drug prevention programming, resolve student safety situations, and provide a positive impact for students daily. We truly appreciate the dedicated service of Deputy Hernandez and Deputy Humphries! 
 

• Federal Emergency Management Administration Website
• I Love You Guys Foundation Website
• American Academy of Pediatrics Website
• National Association of School Psychologists Website
• Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act Resource