EJMS/JCS Safety Information

Jessamine County Schools

Matt Moore, Superintendent 

Emergency Awareness for Parents: 

School Emergency Information 

The safety and security of our students and staff are top priorities for Jessamine County Schools.  The following information will help parents. 

Introduction

The safety and security of our students and staff are top priorities for Jessamine County Schools (JCS). This document explains some of the procedures that have been planned and practiced to prepare us in the event of an emergency at your child’s school. School administrators and district staff work closely with police, fire, emergency services and public health to ensure our School Safety Plans reflect appropriate practices and that all schools are prepared for emergencies. Our comprehensive emergency plan addresses a multitude of potential incidents, not because we expect them to occur, but because we want to be prepared in case they do. For security reasons, specific details are not made available to the public; however, parents and students have a vital role and it is important that you know what to do in an emergency. Please review information in this pamphlet to make sure you and your child understand the emergency procedures. 

What is an Emergency?

An emergency is any unexpected incident that could put your child’s safety at risk. It could be anything from a disruption in utilities to a terrorist activity and could affect one child, one school, or the entire school district. School and district staff, and sometimes emergency responders, will evaluate the seriousness of each situation and determine the best course of action to respond quickly, safely and appropriately. 

Preparedness – How Can Parents Prepare for an Emergency? 

Parents have an invaluable role in preparing their children for emergencies. Listed below are some of the ways you can help them understand that if an emergency occurs at school, school and district staff are trained to handle the situation. Reassure your child that, in case a safety situation occurs, you will be contacted by the school and you will be reunited with them as soon as it is safe to do so. 

• Be sure emergency contact information is current and correct in Infinite Campus. Make sure to update information as soon as there is a change.

• Keep the school nurse informed of any medical conditions or physical limitations your child may have or medications your child may be taking.  Also make sure this is included in your child’s Infinite Campus profile.

• Identify who is authorized to pick up your child if you are not able to. Make sure their contact information is current and correct in Infinite Campus. Please understand that your child will only be released to those listed in IC. Discuss this information with your child. 

• Make sure your child knows the name, address and phone numbers of parents or guardians. If there is only one parent or guardian, your child should have contact information for a second responsible adult on file with your school.

• Talk with your child about the importance of remaining calm and following instructions in the event of an emergency. If an emergency occurs while students are at school, their teacher will provide them with appropriate instructions and information. 

• Let your child know that students could be moved to another location until they can be picked up. Explain the term “Evacuation” in order to ease anxiety and fear if/when an evacuation takes place. 

• Explain that cell phones can be used to briefly communicate his/her status to you, such as I am safe. Emergency responders will depend on cell phones for communication. If students and parents are trying to contact each other, cell circuits may become overloaded, interfering with the ability of emergency responders to communicate vital information. 

• Whenever you are on school grounds, remain alert to activity in and around the school. Report any suspicious activity to school administration and law enforcement so they can investigate. 

• Establish a family preparedness plan including a communications plan. This will enable you to communicate with all family members during an emergency. 

• In case of an emergency in which your child can not go home, make sure there is another place he or she can go and be safe while waiting for a family member to pick them up. 

What Will Schools Do in Emergency Situations?

How schools respond in an emergency depends on the situation and the specifics of the incident. We will make every attempt to ensure that instruction continues, even when it becomes necessary to lock down the school. Depending on the severity of the threat or emergency, additional measures may be taken, including sheltering-in-place, evacuating students from the building or even altering the dismissal time. If emergency responders are called to the scene, we will work with them in a unified command to determine which plan should be implemented. School emergency plans vary from school to school, based on school size, building layout and other relevant factors, and are initiated depending on the events unfolding at the time of the incident. While every school has common pre-established plans of action, evacuation sites, and family reunification plans, these plans must remain confidential for the safety of our students and staff and must be flexible as conditions change. Parents will be informed as soon as the school has done everything we can to ensure the safety of all students and when it becomes possible to provide accurate and helpful information. 

Protective Actions the School May Use: 

Each school has an emergency preparedness plan involving a number of possible actions. The response varies, depending on the conditions and the situation, and is determined by a crisis management team trained to make such decisions. It is important for parents to understand that if a critical incident occurs, students will be released to parents only when danger has passed. 

Schools May Use the Following Protective Actions: