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“FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS”

Emergency Response Plans

Does Hardy County Schools have plans for local, state, or national emergencies or threats? YES! Over the past four years considerable time and effort has been spent on making sure that every school has plans for dealing with a wide variety of “emergencies”. Numerous school personnel have undergone many hours of specialized training. We have worked with state and local emergency and legal officials in designing and making sure that these plans are up-to-date and ready to implement. These plans are reviewed every year and updated to address any changes.

Where can I find out about these plans? You may contact the Principal of your child’s school. These plans are available for review, and each school has employees who can answer your specific questions.

In the event of a local or national emergency what should I do? As parents, you play the most important role in keeping your children safe during an emergency. Please consider the following important guidelines so that you may help our schools respond to an emergency.

Be prepared for early dismissals: In some emergencies it will be necessary to send students home. Every available TV, radio, and Internet source will be notified. In addition, 911, local businesses, and law enforcement agencies will be contacted. These are the first sources of communication. School phone lines will be very busy, and additional calls will only delay getting information out to those whom it is essential to contact. Please check out other sources of information first – before calling the schools.

· Make sure that the school has the correct information: In the case of early dismissal, valuable time is often lost when we do not have the correct, or latest, information on how parents are to be contacted. Are you 100% sure that your child’s school has the correct home, work, and emergency phone number for your child? Does your child know whom to contact in case of an emergency? Have you told you child where you can be reached if your normal routine has been changed? Does the school have the name of someone, other than the parents, where the child can go if you are not available? Please call the school office to verify that the information is correct. This simple phone call today can, and will, save you and your child hours of stress and worry.

· Think twice about “rushing” to the school to pick up your child: Rushing to the school to pick up your child may be your first thought, but not always the best option. School bus transportation will immediately be in operation to deliver students home as soon as possible. It is possible that a large number of parents rushing to the school could result in blocking access for vehicles, and your presence in the building during an emergency dismissal could hamper or delay the work of school officials, and the overall result being many students not being able to be delivered to their homes quickly and safely.

How can I find out more about my specific concerns? Hardy County Schools has the highest concern for our students’ safety. If anyone may wish to discuss specific concerns or ask questions, please call your school Principal or the office of the Superintendent.

FAQ is a monthly column designed to address questions the public may have regarding the operations of Hardy County Schools. If you have a questions or a topic that you would like addressed, please contact Jeanette Keller at the Hardy County Board of Education Office at 530-2348, Extension 236.