Transforming Emergency Planning in Tucson Unified School District

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Tucson Unified School District has revamped its emergency planning process by shifting responsibility to the School Safety department, upgrading to the ADE 2013 template, and establishing an emergency management unit. Challenges include coordinating with administrators and securing off-site evacuation locations. The district's commitment to enhancing safety protocols reflects a proactive approach to ensuring a secure learning environment for its 49,500 students and 6,000 employees across 85 schools and facilities.

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Arizona Twist on Customizing Emergency Plan Templates ADE Safe and Supportive Schools Conference December 4, 2015 JEFF COLEMAN DIRECTOR SAM MARTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOL SAFETY

TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OVERVIEW 85 Schools or Program Sites 15 Support Sites 49,500 students 6000 employees 250 Square Miles 330 Buses transporting 17,000 students daily 10 vacant closed schools

SCHOOL SAFETY OVERVIEW 24/7 operation staffed by: 5 Armed School Safety Officers 4 Traffic Safety Officers 9 Armed Uniformed Security Officers 2 Armed Emergency Management Specialists 5 Dispatchers Key Control Office 4 Clerical Staff 200 Crossing Guards

BACKGROUND Historically our emergency planning function was with the District Risk Management Department. School Safety practiced the plans, attended drills, and helped implement plans when needed. Leadership, Risk Management and School Safety all recognized that this organizational separation of the same function was problematic.

BACKGROUND Starting in SY 14-15, the responsibility of creating and maintaining plans came to School Safety. Our District was operating on paper plans based on the 2006 ADE template. A commitment was made to upgrade to the ADE 2013 template.

CREATING AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SECTION In SY 14-15 funding was obtained for an emergency unit. Two Emergency Management Specialists were brought on to work on the transition to the 2013 template An Office Assistant was hired to track the process. The personnel got on board in the latter part of this same year, work really began in SY 15-16.

EARLY OBSTACLES TO THE PLANNING PROCESS Getting time with the Administrators was and continues to remain an issue. Cooperation from other private and governmental agencies to arrange safe and size appropriate off site evacuation sites. The Emergency Management Specialists soon recognized the ADE template may not be one size fits all.

E.R.P. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS National Incident Management National Incident Management S System ystem ICS TRAINING Emergency Response Plan (E.R.P.) Emergency Response Plan (E.R.P.) Purpose Approval Communication Control Coordination Plan Development and Maintenance Plan Development and Maintenance Update Plan Collaborate Annual training Practice Additional tools to aid in developing and implementing an ERP is found at www.azed.gov/prevention-programs/resources/#11schoolresourse.

CHANGES AND CHALLENGES Developing best Practices Developing best Practices Research What is our end What is our end- -state product Final product state product Consistency in our decision process Consistency in our decision process Simplicity Incorporate strategies that fit the needs of the School Incorporate strategies that fit the needs of the School Job Descriptions

EMERGENCY EVACUATION REUNIFICATION PROCESS (E.E.R.P.) Reunification sites Reunification sites Cooperation with outside entities Job Description Job Descriptions Efficiency Accountability Accountability Control movement Response team Response team The more the merrier Report of the State s Attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury on the Shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School http://www.ct.gov/csao/lib/csao/Sandy_Hook_Final_Report.pdf

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Hard Lock Down Hard Lock Down Safety is everyone s responsibility Soft Lock Down Soft Lock Down Precautionary measure Evacuation Evacuation On or Off-Site Shelter Shelter- -in in- -place place Extreme weather, chemical Reverse Evacuation Reverse Evacuation Do not walk backwards Drop, Cover, Hold Drop, Cover, Hold Use this procedure during an earthquake

TRAINING Every staff member Every staff member Training is the key to Success Conduct drills and evaluate Conduct drills and evaluate Set them up for Success, but also keep them honest Do your job Do your job Understanding what needs to happen Not knowing what to do Not knowing what to do One shot to get this right

PROGRESS WHERE ARE WE AT? 28 schools have had staff trained in emergency procedures. 21 schools have set dates for training. 43 schools have had their emergency plans updated. 34 schools have not been started. 3 people have completed all of the FEMA online training.

IT SEEMED LIKE A DAUNTING TASK But you can do it! We are willing to help in any way we can, anything we have we ll share with you.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, ARE YOU FROM SOUTHERN AZ? We helped create a Southern AZ School Safety Preparedness Consortium In conjunction with Pima County Emergency Management Andrew D'Entremont Network and share ideas Next meeting is on 1-26-16 To get on the mailing list, contact us or Andy: Andrew.D Entremont@pima.gov