School Safety Measures

District Response Plan
Building Response Plans

MSD Pandemic Flu -Emergency Preparations, Response. Recovery (.pdf)

Family Emergency Readiness and Response
    Family Preparedness
    Health/Medical

Personal Safety
    Facilities
    Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug, and Weapons-Free Environment
     Background Checks
     Sex Offender Information
     Hotline Reporting
     Web Safety Links
Harassment/Discrimination/Bullying
Transportation

MEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

The District Response Plan

Mead School District has an emergency response plan that is responsive to many different emergency scenarios. Although specifics of district and building plans cannot be publicized for security reasons, some general characteristics can be shared.

The district plan has as its foundation three categories of response. The first is "THREAT ASSESSMENT", which outlines the process to be used to assess any type or degree of threat. The second is "TRAUMA RESPONSE". This response category provides a plan of assistance to help buildings deal with emotional situations such as the death of a student or staff member. "INCIDENT RESPONSE", the third category, is the portion of the plan that outlines procedures to be used during natural or human emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, intruders, etc.

All of Mead School District's schools are mapped through web-based

PREPARED RESPONSE. Building emergency plans, site maps, and other important information is accessible to emergency responders such as police and fire fighters. Officials from each school met with emergency responders to plan every detail, including sites where command centers, emergency medical facilities, and control checkpoints would be located.

The District also has an established SAFE SCHOOLS HOTLINE - 465-6099 that can be used to report any situation that may pose a threat to students or staff of Mead School District. In addition to the hotline, the District will place emergency information on the MEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE (http://www.mead354.org/ ) when necessary.

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Building Response Plans

Each building in the school district has an individual building plan. The BUILDING PLANS include staff assignments for each specific team (threat, trauma, or incident response). The plans also outline procedures for evacuation, reverse evacuation, lockdown, and other forms of emergencies. Buildings are required to conduct one drill per month during the school year. The drills may take various forms so that students and staff practice responding to different types of emergencies.

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Family Emergency Readiness and Response

Mead School District is committed to sharing of information that will contribute to the safety of all school district patrons.Numerous websites are available to help families prepare for and respond to various emergencies. Sites that families may like to explore are the following:

Family Preparedness

http://www.spokaneprepares.org/ - This site is the location of INW Emergency and Disaster Preparedness. The site has very valuable information about preparing families for emergencies and accessing training to help respond to various emergencies.
http://72hours.org/ - This is a San Francisco based site that has excellent information about preparing a family plan, building family emergency kits, and how to response when essential services are not available.
http://access.wa.gov/emergency/index.aspx - This is the official Washington State Government website. It includes emergency information and resources as well as links other important websites.
http://www.srhd.org/ - The Spokane Regional Health District website features information on emergency response including public health emergency planning and personal preparedness.
http://spokanecounty.org/emergencymgmt/ - This link will take the user to the site of Spokane County Emergency Management.

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Health/Medical

http://www.tpchd.org/index.php - This site links the user to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The site has excellent information on MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) for parents and schools.
http://www.srhd.org/ - The Spokane Regional Health District website has information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about MRSA, influenza and pandemic and avian influenza.
http://access.wa.gov/emergency/index.aspx - The official Washington State Government website provides information on health/medical concerns such as pandemic flu and West Nile virus.
http://www.cdc.gov/ - Center For Disease Control and Prevention. Your online source for Credible Health Information.

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Personal Safety

Mead School District emphasizes high standards of health and safety into all aspects of District operations. In many cases state and/or federal laws dictate standards. Some actions are limited for health reasons (e.g., tobacco use, immunization requirements) and others are required for health reasons (e.g., pesticide notifications, child abuse notification).
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Facilities

The District Safety Committee works with all district sites to oversee safety procedures and injury prevention programs in accordance with state and federal health and safety requirements. These include activities such as continuous facility check (e.g., playgrounds, sports equipment) to staff training in health and safety related issues.
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Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug, and Weapons-Free Environment

State and federal law strictly prohibits the possession of weapons and the use of tobacco, drugs, and alcoholic beverages on school grounds or at school activities. This prohibition applies to all district facilities, buses, and locations for district sponsored events or activities. These prohibitions apply to all students, employees, spectators and visitors while on district campuses or at district sponsored events.
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Background Checks

All Mead School District employees are subject to background checks through either the Washington State Patrol and/or the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. In addition, recent laws require that certificated teachers submit evidence that they have not been convicted of or are under investigation for sexual misconduct.
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Sex Offender Information

Mead School District considers the personal safety of students and employees to be of the highest priority. By working together, parents and the school can share information in an attempt to keep students safe even after school hours. Although there are legal limits that protect the rights of individuals, much information is available through authorized agencies. Parents can gain access to information on sex offenders that may move into a neighborhood by visiting one or both of the following websites:

http://www.spokanesheriff.org/ - This is the website for the Spokane County Sheriff's Department. The right-hand menu includes "Sex Offender Lookup". The site will identify the Level III offenders living in the area of addresses provided.
http://ml.waspc.org - At this site sex offender information is available from the Washington State Patrol.

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Hotline Reporting

Patrons witnessing suspicious behavior that may cause concern for the safety of children may call the Mead School District Safe Schools Hotline at 465-6099.

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Web Safety

Listed below you will find links to Internet awareness activites and publications to help students when traveling on the web.

Media Awareness Games Games are used to teach different skills to each grade 6-12.
Safe Kids - Safe Teens Tips for kids and teens about internet use, cell phone safety and more.
Cybersmart! - Internet Safety rules.
FBI Kids Page K-5 Safety Tips - FBI Kids Page 6- 12 Take the Agent Challenge, or follow a case from start to finish in How We Investigate. FBI Publication -- Parent Guide to Internet Saf et y
FTC - Site Seeing on the Internet The Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General offer this guide to help you prepare for your voyage and avoid fraud and deception en route. We hope you'll share it with your family and especially with children, so that they will be savvy travelers when they visit Cyberspace, too.
Disney's Surf Swell Island Internet Safety kid's interactive game tour, teacher's guide, glossary, for elementary.

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Harassment/Discrimination/Bullying

Mead School District is firmly committed to having a positive educational work and learning environment that encourages respect, dignity, and equality for students, patrons, parents/guardians, applicants, volunteers, contractors, and employees. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying will not be tolerated in the school district's education or working environment. That expectation applies to all interactions, including but not limited to, adult to student, student to adult, student to student, adult to adult, male to female, female to male, male to male, or female to female. For more information, refer to Mead School District Policy 6590 - Harassment, and Policy 3200 - Student Rights and Responsibilities.
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Transportation

The transportation of students to and from school and school sponsored events shall be in a manner which safely and efficiently serves eligible students and which meets the needs of special education students. The transportation program operates pursuant to applicable law RCW 28A.24.005 and WAC regulations.

More information regarding the overall transportation system, safety and behavior expectations, and contact numbers is available on the Mead School District Transportation website. Changes to transportation routs or schedules due to inclement weather will be posted on the website and messages will be available on the SNOW line at 465-SNOW (7669).

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