Adopted: November 1989
Revised: November 2020
Download 709 - Emergency Plans
1. Emergency Preparedness
District 196 recognizes the possibility that emergency situations resulting from natural or human causes could happen on district property or at a district event.
1.1 In order to ensure that the district is prepared to respond to emergency situations, the superintendent or designee will prepare district emergency procedures, in cooperation with city, county and state emergency officials.
1.1.1 The superintendent or designee(s) will coordinate district plans for emergency preparedness with each principal and department head.
1.1.2 Each principal and department head will annually review the procedures with his or her students and staff and implement the procedures, as needed.
1.1.3 The superintendent or designee will ensure that district emergency procedures are reviewed annually and after each emergency incident and updated as needed.
1.2 Updated emergency procedures will be distributed throughout the district and should be easily accessible to administrators and other district employees.
2. Emergency School Closings
The superintendent is authorized to temporarily close or delay the opening of schools or hold a distance learning day, as needed, to ensure the safety of students and employees in the face of emergency or hazardous situations. Emergency or hazardous situations are those, such as severe weather or utility failures, which make it unfeasible or unsafe to carry on normal activities.
2.1 Decisions to close schools, shorten the school day, hold a distance learning day, or cancel or postpone any school or district activities shall always be made on the basis of the safety of the participants. If there is any doubt, the decision-maker should err on the side of safety.
2.2 Students, employees and parents shall be informed annually about emergency school closing procedures. The superintendent shall develop procedures to inform all affected persons when there is an emergency school closing.