According to the U.S. Department of Education (REMSTA), “Election days may present a security challenge for schools and school districts because many designated polling places are on school grounds. Therefore, on election days, some school districts may cancel school or designate the day for teacher professional development”. The decision to close a school or remain …
Category: Planning
The Task Force identified the following critical planning areas in school safety: school assessments and reassessments; reunification planning; schools as polling places; predetermined responses; emergency go-kits; and technology. This section provides resources in those planning areas.
Responding to Student Demonstrations and Protests in Schools (REMS) [n.d.]
Background Classrooms are often the first settings in which students learn what it means to be civically engaged; and when students choose to use demonstrations and protests as a tool for civic engagement, school buildings, grounds, and communities are often selected as the setting. The response of students across the country to the February 14, …
School Door and Window Labeling Recommendations (NH HSEM) [December 2019]
Updated December 2019: The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in cooperation with the NH Fire and Police Chiefs Association, City of Manchester Police Department, NH Department of Education, and the NH Fire Marshall’s Office has endorsed a model system for the labeling or doors, windows, and other access points in NH schools. It …
National Threat Assessment Center Report on Protecting American Schools (USSS) [November 2019]
Ensuring the safety of children at school is a responsibility that belongs to everyone, including law enforcement, school staff, mental health practitioners, government officials, and members of the general public. To aid in these efforts, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) studied 41 incidents of targeted school violence that occurred at K-12 …
School Identification Cards Recommendations (NH HSEM) [November 2019]
School Identification (ID) cards, when issued and worn, are a form of access control that ensures individuals on school property are easily identified. Credentials for faculty, staff, and visitors play a key role in identifying persons during emergencies. Emergency responders, parents, and students need a way to rapidly identify authorized personnel. Identifying visitors in the …
School Emergency Supplies for Shelter In Place (NH HSEM) [November 2019]
Every school should store emergency supplies in preparation for an emergency that requires students and staff to shelter in place at the school building. The school safety team should select supplies that address the needs of the specific school’s population, climate, facilities, and resources. Due to the importance of emergency supplies, the school safety plan …
School Emergency Evacuation “Go Kits” (NH HSEM) [November 2019]
In case of an emergency evacuation, it is critical that every classroom and the administration maintain a “go kit,” a self-contained and portable stockpile of emergency supplies, often placed in a backpack or bucket and left in a readily accessible but secure location so that it is ready to “go.” The school safety plan should …
New Hampshire Response Actions Guide (NH HSEM) [October 2019]
10/30/2019 UPDATE: An editable Microsoft Word version is now available for schools to include their school or district logo and contact information. The New Hampshire Response Actions guide defines and provides instructions based on standardized language for response actions as used in NH schools. Sections include: Clear Hallways Evacuation Scan Lockdown Reverse Evacuation Secure Campus …