Policy 3520

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
3520 WIDESPREAD COMMUNITY DISASTERS FROM NATURAL, TERRORIST OR INFECTIOUS CAUSES, OR OTHER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

The Board of Education recognizes the profound impact a major catastrophic event such as but not limited to biologic, chemical, radiation exposures, widespread infectious diseases, such as pandemics, or disasters by forces of nature, may have on routine school function.

The Board of Education further recognizes the importance of a cooperative, integrated approach with local, state, and federal authorities according to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to contain damage and safeguard our school community with the least disruption possible to normal instructional activities for our children and staff.

Accordingly, the Board will follow all local, state, and federal guidelines for the management of widespread disease or disasters, including but not limited to the need for school closure, sheltering, or use of a building for community assistance, as well as other yet unforeseen matters that a specific disaster may require. This will include a focus on planning and coordination, continuity of student learning and core operations, infection control, and communications. Infection controls can include mitigation strategies to prevent the spread of communicable diseases including but not limited to masking, social distancing, and remote learning, etc. The Superintendent can implement mitigation strategies, after consultation with the District Medical Director, even in the absence of local, state, or federal guidelines, when it is determined that controls are necessary to limit the spread of illnesses or to maintain the continuity of student learning and core operations. Factors such as student and staff absenteeism, rates of infection, vaccination rates, and alternative mitigation strategies, should be considered when implementing infection controls in the absence of official guidelines.

The Board of Education designates the Superintendent of Schools to work directly with the local and state Commissioners of Health (or designates according to NIMS) to implement an action plan at their direction. The Superintendent of Schools will also ensure that written agreements for mutual aid are in place according to NIMS guidelines.

The Board of Education further designates the Superintendent of Schools to work cooperatively with the County Supervisor (or designate according to NIMS) in whatever manner is necessary to maintain public order and the provision of widespread emergency assistance to the school and larger community, including facilitation of the use of school buildings as requested by local, state, or federal authorities as a point of dispensation of medical services, vaccinations, or medication, and/or sheltering community members.

Extraordinary Circumstances

The District considers the safety of its students and staff to be of the utmost importance and is acutely aware that extraordinary circumstances such as widespread illness, natural disaster, or other emergency situation may make District premises unsafe or otherwise interrupt the District's ability to effectively operate. 

In these circumstances, the District will follow its previously developed policies, procedures, and plans including, but not limited to, the District-wide school safety plan and building-level emergency response plan(s). To the extent that any District policy, procedure, or plan is in any way inconsistent with or conflicts with federal, state, or county law, regulation, or executive order released for the purpose of addressing the extraordinary circumstance, the federal, state, or county law, regulation, or executive order will govern. Additionally, the Board may adopt resolutions or take other actions as needed to respond to changes in federal, state, or county law, regulation, or executive order to provide further direction during an extraordinary circumstance. 
 

 
Adopted: 5/12/19
Revision Date: 3/22/22, 2/28/23

Policy 3520