KEARNY BOARD OF EDUCATION        File Code:      6115

Kearny , New Jersey    07032

Policy  

                                                 EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING

 

The superintendent shall direct development of plans for evacuation of buildings in case of fire and for the safeguarding of human life and property in case of civil or other emergencies.

 

The superintendent shall notify the board president or vice president, board secretary and the proper local authorities of any civil or other emergency if the emergency so warrants.

 

The superintendent shall oversee development of a districtwide program for emergencies.  The program shall provide for:

 

1.             Cooperation with local government agencies in developing and carrying out a community disaster plan;

 

2.             As much protection as possible for children at school and on their way to and from school;

 

3.             Training in individual self-protection and survival techniques for pupils and staff;

 

4.             Necessary training and instruction for pupil and staff so that the school emergency plan may be carried out with the greatest possible speed and safety.

 

FIRE DRILLS

 

Fire drills shall be held at least twice each month for all pupils.  The superintendent may order a modification of the fire drills so that they may take the form of indoor drills or of rapid dismissals with outdoor clothing when low temperatures prevail.

 

A written statement of procedures and instructions for fire drills shall be formulated by the superintendent and disseminated to all staff.

 

Instruction in fire prevention shall be given and emphasized in appropriate courses in the curriculum of the school.

 

 

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS - DELAY OPENINGS

 

The superintendent is authorized by the board to close the schools, open them late or dismiss them early in hazardous weather or in other extraordinary circumstances which might endanger the health or safety of pupils or school employees.

 

Each year, parents/guardians, pupils and staff members shall be informed in advance of how they shall be notified in event of emergency closings.  Parents/guardians shall be required to make alternative arrangements for their children in case no one is home to receive a child after an unscheduled early closing.

 

The superintendent, after consultation with the local police, fire department and others, is empowered to close the school or delay opening because of inclement weather.  Notification to the general public shall be accomplished by normal communications media.

         

Procedures for Emergency School Closing are listed on the next seven pages

 

                           PROCEDURES EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING

There are two types of Emergency School Closings covered under this plan.  First, despite all efforts to cancel school in anticipation of inclement weather occasionally the district will be in session when the weather becomes too severe to continue and the need to get children and staff home becomes a priority.  Also, a declared State of Emergency falls under this category.  The second, involves catastrophic circumstances defined as a health or fire emergency localized in one school which may require the movement of students from that building to other facilities in order to complete the school day.  These emergency circumstances may be as simple as an electrical blackout, water supply or drainage problems when the building is temporarily uninhabitable.  In these circumstances it may be necessary to close a given school when the rest of the school district is able to function.  

I.   DISTRICT SCHOOL CLOSING  

In the event that all schools in the district are closed, the following procedures will be placed into effect:  

1.         The Superintendent will inform the following people:

a.         Board President

2.                  Principal(s)

3.                  Kearny Police Department

4.                  Director of Special Services

5.                  Private/Parochial Schools

 

2.                  The principal(s) will:

a.                   Activate the school parent notification procedure, grades PreK-8.

Students in grades 9-12 will be dismissed from school.

b.                  Arrange a location for students, as needed.

c.                   Arrange the personnel needed for supervision ( a duty roster will

be compiled by the principal previous to this time).

 

3.                  Classroom teachers will:

a.                   Receive information concerning which students have or have not

received parent notification.

b.                  Walk all the students who cannot be dismissed to the designated area(s).

c.                   Organize the dismissal.

                                          

    4.         Keeping the children in school is not an option for parents.  Once they have been notified the child must follow the procedure the parent agreed to.

 

5.     All remaining students, regardless of parent notification, will be dismissed at 3:05 (elementary).

 

6.      Depending on the time of the emergency closing of school(s):

- -        P.M. Pre Kindergarten classes will be cancelled.  A.M. classes will be dismissed at regular time.

- -        Any student who is entitled to a school lunch will be given his or her lunch.  Those going home will bring it home and those who are staying will be given the opportunity to eat it in school.

 

II.   SINGLE SCHOOL CLOSING

 

In the event of a single school closing, the following will take place:

 

The Superintendent will inform the following:

            a.         Board President

b.                  Building Principals - sending and receiving schools

c.                   Kearny Police Department

d.                  Director of Special Services

e.                   Director of Food Services

 

n                       The principal will activate a parent notification procedure in grades PreK-8.  Special efforts will be made to speak with the parents of students going home for lunch.

 

n                       The principal will ensure that signs are posted around the building informing parents of the relocation of the students.

 

n                       The police will be asked to escort students from sending to receiving school.

 

n                       Teachers will escort students from sending to receiving school with a police escort.  Teachers will remain with their classes in the assigned school.

 

n                       Toward the end of the school day, weather permitting, the teachers will escort the students from the receiving school back to the home school for dismissal.

 

n                       Depending on the time of the emergency school closing, the P.M. PreKindergarten may be cancelled.

 

 

 

Emergency School Closing                        File Code:   6115

 

The following sending/receiving arrangement will be in effect for single school closing:

 

School                                                Grades                         Receiving School

 

Franklin                                               PreK, K, 1, 2, 3 & 4             Kearny High School

5 and 6                         Garfield School

7, 8 and Specials                       Washington School

 

Garfield                                    PreK, K, 1, 2 & 3                 Washington School

4 and 5                         Lincoln School

6                                            Kearny High School

 

Lincoln                                     PreK, K, 1, 2 & 3                 Roosevelt School

4, 5 and 6                                 Schuyler School

7, 8 and Specials                       Kearny High School

 

Roosevelt                                              PreK, K, 1, 2 and 3                Schuyler School

4, 5 and 6                                 Lincoln School

 

Schuyler                                             PreK, K, 1, 2, 3 &

   Special Ed.                         Roosevelt School

4, 5 and 6                                 Lincoln School

 

Washington                                           PreK, K, 1 & 2                    Garfield School

3, 4 and 5                                 Franklin School

6, 7 and 8                                 Kearny High School

 

Kearny High                                      All students will be sent home

 

 

 

Emergency School Closing                                                                                              File Code:   6115

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                      (School Letterhead)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A message to Parents/Guardians:

 

In certain situations the Kearny Public Schools may be forced to close operations district-wide or close operations in a given building.  In the case of severe weather

it may be necessary to dismiss the children to go home before travel becomes treacherous.  In other instances such as fire or health emergencies it may be necessary to relocate children to other facilities.  Rest assured that in these circumstances the children will be properly supervised by staff and police escort.

 

Kindly discuss with your child the arrangements listed on the attached sheet for a single school closing as well as those for a district-wide school closing.  Also, please sign and submit the attached form to the principal with the specified data carefully completed.

 

This is a precautionary measure adopted by the Board of Education to insure your child’s safety during the school year.  Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emergency School Closing                                                                                                File Code:   6115

 

                                                      KEARNY SCHOOL DISTRICT

                   EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING

 

In the event of a catastrophic circumstance, defined as a health or fire emergency, or a declared state of emergency, or any other catastrophic circumstance as defined by the superintendent, there may be a time, when prior to the regularly scheduled student dismissal time, an emergency closing will be necessary for one or all schools in the district.  The superintendent will declare the emergency.

 

Should this occur, the following procedures will be placed into effect.  When a decision has been made:

 

1.           The Superintendent will inform the following people:

a.  Board President

b.  Principal(s)

c.  Kearny Police Department

d.  Director of Special Services

                             e.  Private/Parochial Schools

 

2.           The principal(s) will:

a.  Activate the school’s parent notification procedure, grades PreK-8. 

               Students in grades 9-12 will be dismissed from school.

b.  Arrange a location for students, as needed.

c.  Arrange the personnel needed for supervision (a duty roster will be compiled by the principal previous to this time).

 

3.           Classroom teachers will:

a.  Receive information concerning which students have or have not received parent  notification.

b.  Walk all the students who cannot be dismissed to the designated area(s).

c.  Organize the dismissal.

 

4.           Keeping the children in school is not an option for parents.  Once they have

been notified the child must follow the procedure the parent agreed to.

 

5.           All remaining students, regardless of parent notification, will be dismissed at 3:05         

(elementary).

 

6.           Depending on the time of the emergency closing of school(s):

--    P.M. PreKindergarten classes will be cancelled.  A.M. classes will be

       dismissed at regular time.

--    Any student who is entitled to a school lunch will be given his/her lunch.

       Those going home will bring it home and those who are staying will be

       given the opportunity to eat it in school.

 

 

                                                                      (School’s Letterhead)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  2002-2003 School Year

 

Dear Parent or Guardian:

 

Please fill out both sides of this form and return to your child’s teacher.

 

                                           EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING PROCEDURE

 

I have discussed with my child the procedure he/she will follow in the event of an early or emergency closing of school.

 

 

________________________________                                    __________________________________

  Name of Parent/Guardian PRINTED                                                        Parent’s Signature

 

             __________________________________

              Home Phone                        Work Phone

 

_________________________________                                   __________________________________

Name of Child PRINTED                                                            Beeper/Cellular Phone, etc.

 

                             __________________________________

Date

 

All telephone numbers are to be current.  It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the school of any telephone number change.

 

PLEASE NOTE:   All student activities will be cancelled on the days of emergency closing

        except for those athletic activities mandated by the New Jersey State

        Interscholastic Athletic Association.