Lessons Learned from Dealing with School Crisis

Communications During a CrisisPresented by:Bill BondSponsored by VALIC NASSP Specialist forSchool Safety

THE WAR IS OVER Schools against cell phones We lost

The ProblemThe average school shooting lasts onlySource: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The average police response time to an active school shooting is12.5 minutes

18 minutes

Help Arrives.Average police response timeis 18 minutes!Agency then dispatchesthe officers.Appropriate agency receives the information.Officers must drop what they are doing and travel tothe scene from their current location.What happens when you call 911?Center might be overwhelmed with incoming calls. (20% of 911 calls are abandoned) The 911 operator has to interpret the emergency.Emergency Call911Dialing911 operator directs call to the appropriate agency. 18Call is routed to a centralized 911 call center.

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Time Line Case StudySandy Hook Elementary SchoolMain office staff reports hearing glass breaking and seeing the shooter.911 call is made.9:35:00 a.m. (0 Seconds) Newtown Police Department Dispatcher broadcasts shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.9:37:06 a.m. (+126 Seconds) Last gunshot is heard. Suicide shot from the shooter.9:40:03 a.m. (+303 Seconds) Newtown officers enter Sandy Hook Elementary School.9:44:47 a.m. (+587 Seconds) First Newtown police officer arrives.9:39:00 a.m. (+240 Seconds)

Dec 14 2012Time Line Case StudySandy Hook Elementary SchoolDecember 14, 2012(Have each of the bullets below display after each click)(click) Approximately 9:35am (+ 0 Seconds) Main office staff reports hearing glass breaking and seeing the shooter. 911 call is made. (FassForward place click here to play this 911 audio)

(click) 9:36:06 (+126 Seconds) Newtown Police Department dispatcher broadcasts shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.(click) 9:39:00 (+240 Seconds) First Newtown police officer arrives.(click) 9:40:03 (+303 Seconds) Last gunshot is heard. Suicide shot from the shooter.(click) 9:44:47 (+587 Seconds) Newtown officers enter Sandy Hook Elementary School.5

42% reduction in response time.Police were on scene within 4 minutes of the 911 call.That is one person every 11.65 seconds.Extremely fast response time. Shooter kills 20students and 6 school staff members in 303 seconds.SchoolGuard couldhave alerted police 126 seconds sooner(11 lives sooner).What Does This Teach Us?

What Does This Teach Us?(click) Extremely fast response time. Police were on seen within 4 minutes of the 911 call.(click)Shooter kills 20 students and 6 school staff members in 303 seconds. That is one person every 11.65 seconds.(click) SchoolGuard could have alerted Newtown police 126 seconds sooner (11 lives sooner). Response time cut by 42%.(click) How many more deaths would there have been if police response time was the average 18 minutes?(at the bottom of this slide have the SchoolGuard When Seconds Save Lives graphic fade in. This is the graphic from slide 5 and remove slide 5 from deck)

6Plan for a CrisisMeet with local police andwalk through the building.Traffic flow/Parent parkingMaintaining crime sceneand witnesses Master keysDigitize the schoolLearn the emergency terms

Communication Plans Parents need informationPhone systemWebsite Teacher at front doorParent volunteers Mass text messages

Crisis KitsFlash Drive or on Your PhoneStudent informationTeacher informationDigitized school Emergency contactsFirst aid suppliesCommunication suppliesTraffic control suppliesSign out formsLeather gloves

Crisis PlanDecide within secondsStaff roles and responsibilities Training and practiceCall 911 NOW!Evacuate or lock down : decideProject calm and confident demeanorSingle spokesman Student releaseDocumentation

Control the CrisisRemain calmCall 911Evacuation or staying in placeUse simple languageAnyone can call a lockdownOnly Principal or AP can call all clear

Mother is ComingStaff member with information for parentsParents on crisis team to reassure other parentsSign out area/forms Students use cell phones to call parents Phone systemWebsite Text Messages to parents

Media is the Key to Recovery

School spokesmanMedia area/ sign in sheetsYour community is your audienceKnow your mission Know the medias rights

Who is Responsible?Security/law enforcement officersCounseling services CommunicationMoney

Return to Normal ASAP

15UnificationIdentify reunion area(s)Identify sign out areaTrain staff and develop sign out formsIf possible, escort students to parentsDevelop a victims/witness list to separate from other parents

Psychological ServicesNational Association of School Psychologistswww.nasponline.org

Victim AssistanceTriage TrainingPrepare Emergency SuppliesIdentifying StudentsProviding Information to Emergency Responders/HospitalRecording NamesStaff ResponsibilitiesPRINCIPALRemain in Control CenterPrepare text messagesDirects 911 CallPrepares All AnnouncementsPrepares Statements for Secretaries

Staff continuedASSISTANT PRINCIPALS/NURSEWhen Secured Report to SceneProvide Medical Assistance-NurseIdentify Victims-Report Status toOffice Record Names andAmbulance InformationStaff continuedPRINCIPALS SECRETARYCall District OfficeLog Times of NotificationContact Parents of VictimsType Prepared StatementsStaff continuedSECRETARIAL TEAMCall 911Turn Off BellsClear Office ofNon-Essential People

Staff continuedHEAD CUSTODIAN AND STAFFSecure The BuildingAssure Crime SceneIs UnchangedPrepare Parent Parking Area

Staff continuedATHLETIC DIRECTOR WITH VESTSClear Bus Area of VehiclesDirect Parents To Parking Area

Communications During a CrisisThank you for giving me the opportunity to be with you today!Bill Bond,NASSP Specialist for School Safety

Email: bondb@nassp.orgPhone: 800-253-7746 ext.357

To schedule Bill Bond to do a presentation in your school or district, please contact Carolyn Glascock1-800-253-7746 ext.202Email: glascockc@nassp.orgFor a list of topics and other NASSP services please visit the NASSP Website at www.nassp.org