What to do in a School Emergency
- Visit the homepage of the P-H-M website first!
- In the event of an actual district wide, crisis situation, the district will set up a Hotline Call Center 574-258-9561
- Families can always call the P-H-M Administrative Offices at (574) 259-7941 if they have questions or can’t reach their child’s school
- Below are answers to some parents’ Frequently Asked Questions that come up during school emergencies
- Tips for Families includes ways parents/guardians can support safety efforts at home and at school
Click here for more information Standard Response Protocol.
What is emergency preparedness?
The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation has taken steps to insure your child’s safety while in school. Each school has developed a crisis response plan. Emergency preparedness includes an all hazard approach to school safety that includes mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
Below are answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
How can I stay informed?
P-H-M school’s broadcast emergency messages, when necessary, using a number of media options. General emergency messages, 2 -hour delays and closings can be found on the District website homepage. Emergency messages are sent by phone to all P-H-M families based on the emergency contact information provided to their child’s school using ParentSquare. Parents and guardians need to make sure they have provided their latest updated contact information to their student(s) school(s). Emergency messages are provided to local media, and parents are encouraged to listen to radio or television. Additionally, we utilize the P-H-M crisis call center (574-258-9561) if needed.
How will my child’s school handle an emergency situation?
All P-H-M School facilities have an emergency preparedness plan. The specifics of each plan differ for each location. The response to an emergency will differ based on the specifics of the crisis. In general, each plan involves the designation of a crisis management team that conducts state required emergency drills. These drills involve fire evacuation, shelter-in-place, severe weather, earthquake and lockdown procedures. In response to a crisis, each plan includes a process of partent reunification to ensure all students are safe and reunited with parents. All P-H-M School plans are reviewed, updated and communicated to the Department of Education within 60 days of the start of each school year.
How can I see the security plan for my child’s school?
P-H-M School’s do not release this type of specific information, pursuant to the Indiana Code 5-14-3-4. This law provides specific exclusions to the type of information that can be released. The Crisis Management Plan, includes a template which serves as the guide that schools use to construct their own site-specific plans in coordination with the Director of Safety, Security and Student Services and local emergency responders.
What is the difference between HOLD, SECURE and LOCKDOWN?
HOLD: “In Your Classroom or Area.”
Students are trained to:
- Clear the hallways and remain in their area or room until the “All Clear” is announced;
- Do business as usual
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Close and lock the door
- Account for students and adults
- Do business as usual
SECURE: “Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors” (this protocol used to safeguard people within the building, it’s used when there is an external situation or threat)
Students are trained to:
- Return to inside of building
- Do business as usual
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Bring everyone indoors
- Lock the outside doors (*all external doors of P-H-M schools are always locked. Click to learn more about P-H-M’s Three Layered Security)
- Increase situational awareness
- Account for students and adults
- Do business as usual
LOCKDOWN: “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”
Students are trained to:
- Move away from sight
- Maintain silence
- Do not open the door
Adults and staff are trained to:
- Recover students from hallway if possible
- Lock the classroom door
- Turn out the lights
- Move away from sight
- Maintain silence
- Do not open the door
- Prepare to evade or defend
What measures are taken for students in unattached buildings?
If an accident or attack that created contaminated air occurred in the nearby area, staff and students will be requested to shelter in the closest school building or building that is safe from harms way until the authorities have cleared the school or facility.
Why are you keeping children from their parents?
P-H-M does not intend to keep children from their parents if a crisis occurs during school hours or school activities. It is the schools intent to safeguard students based on the type of threat or emergency situation. When authorities have cleared the school, students will be released to their parents. Parents will be informed of the parent-student reunification center location via ParentSquare, crisis call center (574-258-9561), school websites or District website and local media.
What is a parent reunification site?
If public safety officials require that a school building be evacuated, students and staff members will be directed to a nearby safe location. Students may be safely transported by bus to a designated school where a parent-student reunification center will be established. Parents will be informed of the reunification location via ParentSquare, crisis call center (574-258-9561), school websites or District website and local media.
Why can’t I be given the evacuation and parent reunification locations ahead of time?
P-H-M does not release this type of specific information, pursuant to the Indiana Code 5-14-3-4. This law provides specific exclusions to the type of information that can be released. Also, during emergency situations, circumstances could arise that might force changes to previously designated locations. Parents will be informed of parent-student reunification center locations via the local media and through school resources.
Are schools stockpiling food and water?
The school system evaluates resources on hand to determine needs for a short term (48 hours) shelter-in-Place. P-H-M Food Service has a Crisis Plan in place for such emergency situations. In the event of a large-scale catastrophic event, P-H-M would rely on federal and state authorities for assistance.
There may be other local and national events that would result in sheltering, in such events, other community agencies, including the Red Cross, would be responsible for providing food and water. This response would be a shelter, not a shelter-in-place.
In all critical events of this magnitude, the school district becomes part of a larger emergency response team. The St. Joseph County Emergency Management Director and the county crisis response team are involved. P-H-M has been approved to work with the American Red Cross for shelter facilities and Penn High School as well as Grissom Middle School will serve as a Mass Prophylaxis distribution site for St. Joesph County Health Department.
Does the school district have a food service crisis plan in place for such emergencies?
Most of the envisioned emergency situations would be localized short-term events and would not call for long-term supplies.However, P-H-M School’s does have a Food Service Crisis Plan in place and updated annually by the Director of Food Service. This plan involves utilization of available food and drinks in each facility during this short term crisis event.
What if my child is riding a school bus at the time of a crisis?
School bus drivers will be in contact with the Office of Transportation for instructions in the event that a crisis occurs while students are in transport. Bus drivers will always use common sense in safeguarding all students. Parents will be informed of the parent-student reunification center location via ParentSquare. system, the school and/or District website and on the P-H-M , along with local media. Crisis Call Center (574-258-9561) may also be activated for parents to call for information.
Can I pick up my child?
Following the safety protocols outlined in SRP, parents are allowed to pick up their children at the school after police deem the situation safe and any holds have been lifted. During any emergency, school personnel will maintain as safe and normal environment for children within the school as is possible. School is not automatically canceled in emergency situations. Remember, school may be the safest place for children.
Who can pick up my children?
P-H-M can NOT release students to individuals who are not authorized on the student’s emergency care card or who do not have written parent authorization.
The emergency care form is completed by parents and guardians at the start of each school year. Parents and guardians are encouraged to update the emergency contact information as needed throughout the school year.
Friends and neighbors may sign a child or children out with written permission from a parent or parents. Both (or all) parents may give permission in writing for the sign out and pickup. Schools prefer to have written permission on the day that a child’s pickup will change, but schools may also keep written permission on file. School offices may keep the permission notes–and are asked to attach them to the emergency care card(s) of those involved. Schools may also ask for identification when the child is released to the one(s) mentioned in the permission note. It is advisable to communicate with the teacher as well, perhaps with a copy of the signed written note.
What about my child’s medication?
If your child takes medication regularly, You, the parent, should make sure that the school has an appropriate amount of additional medication on hand. Talk with your child’s school nurse for more information.
Can I contact my child?
Parents are asked not to call the school in emergency situations so phone lines can remain accessible for handling the specific situation. In the event of a crisis, P-H-M will open a Crisis Call Center to handle the numerous phone calls from parents and public. Parents will be kept informed via ParentSquare, the school and/or District website, and Crisis Call Center (574-258-9561).
How will my children know what to do in the event of a immediate danger?
Inform your children that, if a crisis occurs while they are in school, their teacher will provide them with appropriate instructions. All staff are provided training and access to the school crisis plans and drills occur on a monthly basis at all school locations.
Parents are also encouraged to prepare a family disaster plan and practice it so that everyone will remember what to do if a disaster does occur. Everyone in the household, including children, should play a part in the families response and recovery efforts. Teach your children how to recognize danger signals. Make sure your children know what smoke detectors, fire alarms, and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like.
Will children be allowed to view events via live television or radio reports?
In the event of a large scale event or other crisis, teachers will be informed as to the appropriate actions to take. Receiving live media coverage in the classroom about an attack or crisis will be left up to the administrators and teachers discretion. Appropriate measures will be taken depending on the age of the students.
How are field trips handled?
The impact of any critical situation on field trips–both district wide and at individual schools–will depend on the specifics of the situation. If the situation warrants, all field trips will be canceled. Cancelations could also include travel to schools, community programs, and other events. There may be circumstances that could require the cancelation of field trips to certain areas. All school buses are equipped with radio communications with the transportation office. If a field trip is under way and must be recalled, buses would be directed to return to the school or a designated safe area. Parents are reminded that P-H-M retains the right to cancel any field trip for safety reasons.