Safety

Resources

 

 

The District is continually reviewing and assessing the safety and security of our schools in collaboration with local, county, and state officials. Building level safety and security questions should be addressed to the building principal.

 

 

District Safety Information

Having an emergency plan will help keep you cool headed when an emergency arises. Found here are details on ways to help prepare, with downloadable PDF’s to help you plan. The Board recognizes that the facilities of the Shippensburg Area School District must be maintained and operated in a safe condition for students, staff and visitors. The District recognizes the importance of programs and training to ensure a safe and secure environment for our children. The following procedures have been developed to ensure a safe school atmosphere:
  • The District has Emergency Operations Plans in place for situations such as fires, evacuations, lock-downs, bomb threats, bus accidents, medical emergencies, and severe weather. These plans were developed in coordination with local emergency responders and county public safety personnel.
  • Emergency drills are conducted routinely throughout the school year to remind students, staff and administrators of their responsibilities should an emergency occur. Each building is required to conduct a weather drill, shelter in place, lock-down, bomb threat, and train derailment exercise on a rotating monthly schedule set by the Superintendent. School bus evacuations are practiced at least twice a year.
  • The District has a parent notification system called SkyAlert. This system can contact parents and staff in the event there is an emergency. It is imperative that parents keep the school building informed if phone numbers have changed. SkyAlert will be used to notify parents of weather related delays and dismissals, to provide information about school-related events and activities. The schools also use SkyAlert for attendance information.
  • District employees must maintain an up-to-date state police criminal history background check, a child abuse history clearance and a FBI background check in order to be employed by the District.
  • Every room with in the District buildings has a Safe Schools chart which outlines how to respond to emergency situations. The charts break down the staff’s responsibility depending on the emergency situation.
  • During regular school hours all school buildings can only be accessed by the main door and through a buzzer-system controlled by the building’s office staff. Visitors are required to show photo identification to the office staff and sign-in at the office. Visitors will be provided a visitor pass. Upon leaving the building visitors are required to sign out and return the visitor badge. All school district personnel wear a photo identification badge provided by the District.
  • The District works with local emergency responders, to include the police, fire, and EMS departments, as well as the local emergency manager, and Franklin and Cumberland County Departments of Public Safety to conduct trainings for administrators, teachers, and support staff. The District has held various drills to test our emergency plans in coordination with local responders.
  • The District also requires volunteers to maintain updated clearances (state police criminal history background check, a child abuse history clearance and a FBI background check) prior to supporting certain volunteer activities in the district.

Should a school emergency occur...

The District will communicate with parents and staff through the SkyAlert notification system. The District may also contact local television and radio stations. The exact listing of the stations can be found in the student handbooks. The District website will  be updated with important information.

It may be necessary to relocate students and staff to a different facility due to an emergency. Should this occur, parents will be contacted by the SkyAlert notification system with information about the alternative facility. Parents are reminded that District staff will ask for identification in order for the District to release a student into your care. Parents should not go directly to the school buildings, as this creates traffic congestion which can be detrimental to buses and emergency responders.

Parents should follow the instructions provided to you through the SkyAlert notification system.  These instructions will be based on law enforcement and first responders recommendations to the school as they handle the emergency situation. School safety is the responsibility of everyone involved in the school district and the community.

Work Safety Starts with YOU!

Are you committed to doing your part in creating an injury free workplace?  Here is what you can do every day to do your part:

  • Take your time in each task that you do.  A great number of injuries occur when employees are in a rush.
  • Check procedures, follow instructions and reject taking shortcuts.  Take time to ask questions if you are unclear on how to complete a task.  Ask for clarity if you are unsure of instruction and don’t sacrifice safety by exhibiting unsafe behaviors just to get the job done quicker.  Also, use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), it is there to keep you safe.
  • Stay alert and observant.  While completing tasks of a high risk magnitude, avoid all distractions.  If something should cause you to lose your attention, stop the task you are doing and resume when all distractions have ended.
  • If you see something, say something.  If you see something unsafe at the workplace or have a near miss accident, let your building principal, Director of Maintenance or Human Resources department know. In addition, if you witness a fellow employee doing something unsafe, stop them and encourage them to perform the task with safety in mind.
  • If an injury should occur, comply with Accident Investigation Procedure.  The purpose of this procedure is not to discipline an injured employee, it is to investigate with hopes to prevent future accidents.  It is important to know what caused the incident and what could be done in the future to minimize risk.