With the unfortunate incidents that have occurred throughout the United States during the past
few weeks, school safety is on all of our minds.  At Butler Elementary School, school safety is always a
priority.  I would like to discuss safety issues in this month's edition of Cat Tracks.
     We take every precaution to ensure the safety of every child.  Drop off and pick up times must be
safe and orderly.  We have PTA volunteers who direct drop off and pick up in the parking lots each
morning and each afternoon.  Recently, lanes were painted so that it is easy to tell which lane is the
drive through lane and which lane is the drop off lane. Please follow the direction of the parents who are
helping in the parking lot.  Also, please remember that parking in the handicapped spaces is never
permissible, regardless of the circumstances, unless you have a valid handicapped-parking permit.
     I realize that having the parking lot to the south of the building can be inconvenient when you need to
pick up your child or drop something off.  Therefore, I worked with Deputy Miller of the County Sheriff's
Office to determine what we could do to facilitate this process. When school is in session and when NO
BUS is in the bus lane, parents may park in that lane for up to five minutes to pick up a child or drop
something at the office.  If you need to be in the building longer than 5 minutes, please park in the parking
lot and walk to the front door (all other doors are kept locked during the day).
     Under no circumstances are private vehicles to be in the bus lane from 7:50 to 8:30 a.m. and 
from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. or any time when a bus is present.  I have instructed the parent volunteers 
and the teachers on duty to write down license numbers of cars who use the bus lane inappropriately.  I
will call Deputy Miller with the information so she can remind violators that we all have responsibility to
keep all of the children safe.
     Once school is under way each day, all outside doors are locked except the front door. (This will require
that children who come to school late must enter the building through the main doors). All school
employees are required to wear identification badges and visitors must check in at the office. We welcome
parents into the school but insist that everyone follow the procedures for entering the building. All staff
members have been instructed to challenge anyone in the building who does not have the proper 
identification. Please do not be offended if I, or one of the other staff members approach you and ask if 
we can help you. Remember, our goal is safety for all children.
              All the schools in the district follow the Incident Command System (ICS).  The objectives of this
system are:

• To prioritize and logically manage emergency objectives
• To respond to an emergency methodically and systematically
• To keep emergency responders focused while functioning under stress

Following is a brief discussion of how we will respond to five emergencies: fire, earthquake, bomb threat, shelter in place,
or violence.
         FIRE (fire drills held monthly)

• Students are evacuated from the building
• Teachers and the ICS team account for every person in the building
• If any one is missing, teams will search for that person if doing so will not endanger the team
• Fire and police respond
• Everyone will stay out of the building until the fire department declares the building safe for re-entry

     SHELTER-IN-PLACE (periodic drills are held)

• The building is sealed (doors and windows shut) and outside airflow is restricted-no one inside the building is allowed and no one outside the building is allowed in (The best thing for parents to do is wait at home for instructions).
• All common areas in the building are cleared and students remain in their classrooms with their teachers
• Teachers and the ICS team account for every person in the building
• Fire and police respond
• Everyone will stay in shelter-in-place until emergency responders declare the environment outside the building safe
• If school is still in session, school will continue
• If school has dismissed, parents will be notified and arrangements made for student pick-up

      EARTHQUAKE (periodic drills are held)

• React to the initial earthquake (Drop, cover, and hold for at least 60 seconds)
• Determine most safe location after earthquake (Account for students before and after moving to another place)

        Stay where you are (RECOMMENDED)
                 If extended wait OR you smell gas OR see smoke, move to safety (leave building)
                 If gas or smoke is not a threat, move to another room ONLY IF NECESSARY
         

• Teachers and the ICS team account for every person in the building
• Provide medical needs
• Search and rescue if safe to do so
• Fire and police respond
• Students will be held until emergency responders determine safest place for children to be

        VIOLENCE (periodic drills are held)

• School goes into immediate lockdown

              All individuals are locked and barricaded in classrooms
                  Students are positioned for maximum protection in the classroom
                  Visibility and sound is limited

• If safe, teachers use a card system to account for students and to indicate location of intruder
• Prepare for dynamic law enforcement response
• Police will escort and remain with students when it is safe to leave the building

        BOMB THREAT (periodic drills are held)

• Administration determines seriousness of threat
• If threat is credible, building is evacuated
• Teachers and the ICS team account for every person in the building
• Fire and police respond
• Emergency responders will determine if the building is safe to re-enter or if the students should be transported to another location

         None of us wants any of the above emergencies to occur; however, we are prepared to deal with them if they do happen.