School Emergency Procedures

Although your natural instincts in an emergency may be to go to the school to safeguard your child, please understand that doing so could impede the response to the situation. Going to the school may interfere with emergency crew’s and school personnel’s efforts to deal with the emergency. Extra vehicles and people at the site make the task more difficult.  

• Please do not go to the school to pick up your child unless requested to do so.
• If you arrive at the school in the midst of an emergency, please respect the protocol in progress.
• Please do not call the school and do not call your child’s cell phone during an emergency.
  • Phone systems need to remain available for handling the actual emergency.
  • Calling your child’s cell phone during an emergency may be putting them at higher risk by disclosing their location or drawing attention to them during a lock-down. 

We recognize that when an emergency occurs parents will be worried and want to be reunited with their child as quickly as possible. It is our intention to make this happen. However, to ensure every child’s safety and the safety of staff, specific procedures have been established for releasing students.

Parents are asked to adhere to the parent-child reunification procedures listed below. Staff will work hard to ensure these procedures take place without delay. However, please understand the process will still take some time; we ask for your patience when you arrive at the parent-child reunion area.

1. A parent-child reunion area will be established. When appropriate, parents will be notified of the Reunion Area’s location. The location may not be at the school-the location will depend on the specifics of the emergency.

2. Students will only be released to an individual designated as the legal guardian or emergency contact on the student’s Emergency Form, which is completed at time of school registration. Please be sure to keep this information current with your school, as the school will only release a child to someone listed as an authorized Emergency Contact there will be no exceptions.

3. Valid identification is required to pick up your child. This is required to protect your child from any unauthorized individuals attempting to pick up students. Even if school personnel know you, you must still present I.D. as the school may be receiving assistance from other schools or outside agencies.

4. You will be required to sign for the release of your child. This is extremely important, as it ensures your child, along with other students, is accounted for at all times. Please do not just take your child from the school or evacuation center without signing for his/her release.  

5. Once you have been reunited with your child, please leave the area immediately. This is for your own safety and that of your child.

6. If you are unable to pick up your child, he/she will be kept at the parent-child reunion area until alternate arrangements can be made. Your child will be supervised at all times.