K-8 administrators refine
school emergency plans
By clare MARie celano
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — War. Emergency. Evacuation. Lockdown. Red alert. Turtle position.
These words no doubt evoke fear and confusion in all people, but none more than parents who send their children off to school each day and entrust them to the watchful eye of school personnel.
In these times, putting a child on a school bus or even dropping him off at the school’s entrance can create havoc with a parent’s emotions if they are fearful of domestic terrorist activity.
The Freehold Borough School District has an emergency/crisis plan in place that may not stop parents from worrying, but may help to put them at ease with the knowledge that the school is prepared.
The emergency/crisis plan, introduced at a Board of Education meeting on March 24, was unanimously approved by board members and provides a plan of action for crisis management, crisis response, as well as a designated crisis response team, emergency responses and procedures for a number of untoward incidents that could happen in the course of a school day.
Many of these procedures are already in place, according to Superintendent of Schools Janet Kalafat, who presented the plan at the meeting.
Members of the newly formed School Safety Committee, headed up by Jim Cosulich, the district’s director of special programs, were responsible for updating the emergency plans and procedures already on the books.
Kalafat told the audience that she and Cosulich met with officials from the borough’s crisis management team, in addition to representatives from the borough police and fire departments, emergency medical technicians representatives of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management.
Many of the procedures had already been documented, others will see their first printing in the plan this year.
If, for example, a "Code Red" alert on the warning scale of terrorism activity is put into action, the superintendent said that no cars will be allowed to come up near any of the school buildings.
"Officials say that the highest incidence of bombs are found in cars," Kalafat explained.
She added parents may come to pick up their children, but under no circumstances are they to get out of the car and leave it parked in front of the building and come into the school.
She also reported that the school’s handicapped parking spaces, which are closest to the school, will be moved for additional safety.
"Mayor [Michael] Wilson is going to have the parking lot rearranged and move those spaces away from the front of the building," Kalafat said.
The superintendent has already sent one letter home with some emergency information. Another letter is due to go out soon, inviting parents to an evening meeting to discuss the emergency crisis plan and answer any questions parents may have.
"Parents need to understand that if a code red or lockdown was ever put into action, for any number of reasons, for example, a shooter or an intruder, they need to know they cannot come to the school to pick up their children," she explained. "They need to know that we have enough food and water and blankets for an extended time and that we will take care of their children."
A code blue, according to the plan, addresses emergency procedures for an off-site evacuation. A code blue situation would be handled by the borough police, who have detailed layouts and plans of all the schools.
"The walking evacuation, which would include crossing traffic, would be orchestrated by the police and the off-site location for the children would be chosen that day," she added.
Kalafat said staff members have already been trained in all the procedures detailed in the plan. She said the district will be having practice drills for all types of emergencies listed in the plan, after meeting with parents.
There is emergency back-up lighting from an emergency generator as well as emergency back-up fire and burglar alarm systems detailed in the plan. Kalafat said that in addition, a 48-hour supply of water and food is now in each building. The subject of children’s allergies is also under discussion to make certain that there is food that every child can eat. A mobile emergency medical response kit is available for the nurse in each school building.
Other specifics are that in the case of a bomb threat, the public address system is never to be used. Teachers will be alerted to the emergency by word-of-mouth. In addition, during the threat, all electronic communications, including cell phones or walkie-talkies, will not be used.
Another section on the possibility of the school being struck by severe weather has the staff directing students to follow "turtle command."
Kalafat told the audience that the physical education department will be responsible for implementing the practice of teaching the students how to crouch down in "turtle" position to avoid certain types of danger.
Included in the plan are emergency procedures for a missing or abducted child, a bus accident and suicide ideations [plans and/or expressed thoughts] and/or suicide attempts.
A comprehensive list of emergency telephone numbers and addresses are included in the plan. Kalafat said every teacher will have this plan in his or her classroom for immediate access.