NH Department of Safety
The School Readiness Program is responsible for working with public and non-public K-12 schools to provide assistance with reviewing their site-specific emergency operations plans, facilitating school-based trainings and exercises, conducting physical security assessments, and coordinating the NH School Safety Preparedness Task Force. Together these measures combined with industry best practices ensure New Hampshire schools are …
This guide is a result of recommendations made by New Hampshire’s School Safety Preparedness Task Force. The group was formed in 2018 to further Governor Christopher Sununu’s goal of making New Hampshire’s schools the safest they can be while fostering growth and education. Information within this stand-alone School Safety Construction Planning & Design Guide specifically …
Recommendation 2: Convene a study group to examine New Hampshire background checks for the purchase of firearms to determine if changes are needed.
Recommendation 3: Replace 4 of the 10 required emergency egress drills (fire drills) with all-hazards drills, at least one of which should test emergency response to an armed assailant.
Recommendation 12: All school plans submitted under RSA 189:64 shall be reviewed by the State every three years based on current best practices. A feedback report shall be forwarded to the school for voluntary changes.
Recommendation 13: Continue with the current, voluntary New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management school assessment process. Provide reassessments at least every three years or when significant changes to the facility, staff, or policy occur.
Recommendation 14: Reevaluate the Homeland Security and Emergency Management school assessment process every three years to ensure assessors use the latest standards, knowledge, and techniques.
Recommendation 15: Develop, implement, communicate, and exercise a reunification plan that clearly establishes where and how students will be reunited with their families.
Recommendation 16: Develop a detailed plan that focuses on keeping students safe when local elections are held in the school building, understanding that individuals will be present on school property who have not been vetted.
