Pittsfield Public Schools

September is National Preparedness Month….ARE YOU READY?

The Ready Campaign’s websites (ready.gov and listo.gov) and toll-free numbers (1-800-BE-READY and 1-888-SE-LISTO) provide free emergency preparedness information and resources available in English and Spanish.

Earthquake Preparedness

Please download and print this Red Cross Earthquake Safety Checklist. An additional resource is this Earthquake Safety Guide.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE LETTER AND GUIDELINES

Contains important information on what you and your children should do in a school emergency. Please click here to download and print. Or read below.

Emergency Response Booklet

Family Emergency Response Booklet is for you to download and keep as a resource.

Emergency Response and Guidelines

To keep the public updated and informed, Pittsfield Public Schools would like to make families aware that, should an emergency or disaster situation ever arise in our area while school is in session, the Pittsfield Public Schools have made preparations to respond effectively. The safety of our families' children, our staff, and our schools will always be our highest priority. All of the plans we have made address, in a prudent manner, how to respond to various situations and provide direction and guidelines to schools about how to implement instructions they receive during an emergency, from not only the school system but also appropriate local, state, and federal agencies.

In the event of an emergency situation at your school, in Pittsfield, and/or in one of the areas adjacent to it, local and state agencies will provide direction and consultation to the school system. During any emergency, each school's Incident Commander will direct the school building in the implementation of one of the following procedures:

• Lockdown: This response secures all students and adults in the school building and requires the locking of all doors and windows.
• Shelter-in-Place: This response secures all students and adults in the school building and requires the locking of all doors and windows also, but students and staff can move in and out of rooms as necessary (use restroom, visit nurse, get supplies, etc.). In this type of response, students and staff may be moved to a central location in the building for a weather emergency.
• Evacuation: The Pittsfield Public Schools has a detailed evacuation plan for every school in the event that it is necessary to move children from the school building. Students will be relocated to a safe and secure location. In the event that students need to be relocated off school property, each school site has an off-site relocation. Parents will be notified of each school’s reunification site. The reunification site is the only location from which parents will be able to pick up their children.

Please keep in mind that no student is released to any individual who is not specifically listed on the student’s emergency form, including an older sibling. All adults must show photo I.D. when picking up a student. Please remember to update students' schools if there are changes in students' emergency contact information.

Families' cooperation is necessary in any emergency. We ask that families follow the following guidelines:

•  Give the most accurate, up-to-date health and emergency information to your children's school office(s) immediately.
• Do not telephone the school. Telephone lines may be needed for emergency communication.
• Do not go to your children's school(s). Emergency Services vehicles and personnel may need access to the school’s campus. You will be notified where and when to pick up your children, as soon as possible.
• Turn to local radio (89.7FM, 100.1FM, 1420 AM, 1340 AM) and television stations (PCTV Channels) and/or the Pittsfield Public Schools website (www.pittsfield.net)—or any other local television or radio station. When we are able, we will issue a ConnectEd call to keep you informed, as well.
• Impress upon your children the need for them to follow the directions of all school personnel in times of an emergency.

Parents and guardians should become familiar with the Pittsfield Public Schools Emergency Management Plan. We ask that families be patient and understanding with the student release process. Parents should discuss these matters with their immediate family. Planning ahead will help alleviate concern during emergencies.

If you would like further information on Pittsfield Public Schools’ Emergency Management Plan, “Family Emergency Response Booklets” are available to you. To obtain a copy, click on the link above on this page, or contact the school.

Once again, we want to assure the public that, in cooperation with local agencies, we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of students, staff, and community. Certainly in times like these we must all work together and depend upon one another in order to keep everyone out of harm's way.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Printable copy to download and keep (English and Español)

1. How will I be notified about emergency situations, procedures, and directives? The District has the responsibility to notify parents about emergency situations at your child’s school as soon as it is practicable. The following methods of communication have been established and may be used to notify parents about emergency situations: 

• Parent Information Centers (your school's reunification site)
• Local radio stations, local cable TV and PCTV channels, and the district website at www.pittsfield.net may be used to communicate accurate information—or any other local television or radio station, and/or…
• Parent letters and memos may be sent home with students to provide information about an emergency event, services available during off-school hours, and directions about the next day

2. May my child use a cell phone to contact me in an emergency situation? We require that all student cell phones be turned off/not used during emergency situations. This is especially important during lockdowns, lockouts, bomb threats, building evacuations, and emergency sheltering situations.

3. Why might students be evacuated from schools? Evacuation is the emergency response procedure used to ensure the safety of students when the building has been threatened (bomb threat) or compromised, or when critical systems have been damaged or present an immediate danger. This includes fire, toxic spills, flood, natural disasters, and potential acts of terrorism. The purpose of the evacuation is to first immediately remove students and staff from harm's way, then to reunite students with parents in the most effective way possible.

4. Why can’t I go to the school and pick up my child? In the event of an emergency situation while your child is in school, your child is the responsibility of the school. School and emergency personnel will be working together to ensure the safety of students and school personnel. Your presence would not allow emergency responders and school personnel to do what is necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff. Further, interference with personnel or procedures during an emergency response will result in legal consequences.

Reunification Sites 2015-2016

Parents and guardians will reunite with students following a school evacuation at the following locations. (All locations are in Pittsfield.)