School safety plans heard
Wednesday, March 14, 2007: The Lewis County Interagency Council heard an overview of the school
district's safety measures and emergency response plans during its quarterly meeting on March 13.
Kevin Duff, director of pupil personnel, addressed the myths and realities surrounding the issue of
school violence. He noted that most people automatically think of school shootings as the most
common threat to student safety, but the reality is quite different.
As happened when a tornado ripped through a school in Mississippi recently, natural disasters are
much more common. Also topping the list of potential safety issues are fire, chemical/hazmat spills,
accidents, suicide prevention and family issues.
While there is a wide range of potential emergency situations for which to prepare, Duff said he is
particularly concerned about the possibility of a chemical or hazmat spill on the AA Highway near the
middle and high schools, as well as resulting from a train derailment near Central Elementary.
While explaining the variety of lockdown and evacuation procedures, Duff stressed that the safety
and security of the children are the top priority in any type of emergency. He said most people choose
education as a career because they love children and, when an emergency occurs, educators need to
keep a clear and calm head and be able to account for every student during and after an emergency.
Duff said that emergency information is provided at the beginning of each school year so parents can
be informed of what steps they should take when they hear of an emergency at one of the district's
schools. One thing parents should not do is come to the affected school because that can interfere
with emergency response personnel. Instead, parents should listen to radio and television reports to
learn where they can go to be reunited with their children.
Crisis management sessions involving school personnel and emergency response agencies have
been planned for each school in the district. These sessions will review each school's crisis plans
and include a walk around the school's facility layout, crisis protocols, lock down and evacuation
procedures, communications, traffic control, student dismissal and incident command. Table
simulations will familiarize all participants with potential emergency responses.
The next meeting of the Lewis County Interagency Council will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, at the
Lewis County Extension Office. For more information, contact Paul Semisch at People's Self-Help
Housing 606-796-6333.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007: The Lewis County Interagency Council heard an overview of the school
district's safety measures and emergency response plans during its quarterly meeting on March 13.
Kevin Duff, director of pupil personnel, addressed the myths and realities surrounding the issue of
school violence. He noted that most people automatically think of school shootings as the most
common threat to student safety, but the reality is quite different.
As happened when a tornado ripped through a school in Mississippi recently, natural disasters are
much more common. Also topping the list of potential safety issues are fire, chemical/hazmat spills,
accidents, suicide prevention and family issues.
While there is a wide range of potential emergency situations for which to prepare, Duff said he is
particularly concerned about the possibility of a chemical or hazmat spill on the AA Highway near the
middle and high schools, as well as resulting from a train derailment near Central Elementary.
While explaining the variety of lockdown and evacuation procedures, Duff stressed that the safety
and security of the children are the top priority in any type of emergency. He said most people choose
education as a career because they love children and, when an emergency occurs, educators need to
keep a clear and calm head and be able to account for every student during and after an emergency.
Duff said that emergency information is provided at the beginning of each school year so parents can
be informed of what steps they should take when they hear of an emergency at one of the district's
schools. One thing parents should not do is come to the affected school because that can interfere
with emergency response personnel. Instead, parents should listen to radio and television reports to
learn where they can go to be reunited with their children.
Crisis management sessions involving school personnel and emergency response agencies have
been planned for each school in the district. These sessions will review each school's crisis plans
and include a walk around the school's facility layout, crisis protocols, lock down and evacuation
procedures, communications, traffic control, student dismissal and incident command. Table
simulations will familiarize all participants with potential emergency responses.
The next meeting of the Lewis County Interagency Council will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, at the
Lewis County Extension Office. For more information, contact Paul Semisch at People's Self-Help
Housing 606-796-6333.
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