Emergency Preparedness and Support
Francis Howell School District (FHSD) continues to take proactive
measures to protect the safety of all our students and staff members. FHSD
representatives sit on the St. Charles County local emergency planning
committees and emergency management teams, the groups that are planning our
community’s responses to potential threats. Our plans are made in concert
with all other local emergency preparedness plans. All Francis Howell
school district sites have safety and security plans. The plans are designed
with the help of school security staff members, as well as local law
enforcement, emergency management, and public health officials. Plans are
regularly reviewed and updated. These plans include procedures to respond to
critical incidents, such as fire or tornado, and school system personnel
practice these drills regularly.
Francis Howell School District works in close collaboration with local,
state, and federal health, safety, and emergency personnel to develop and
maintain plans for coping with a variety of emergency response situations.
These plans involve efforts to protect all students while they are at
school. FHSD also is a key resource for facilities and transportation in
regional emergency response situations. The actions taken during any type
of emergency situation depend a great deal on the specifics of the incident.
For example, one or more schools may evacuate, lock down, or initiate a
shelter-in-place response, according to the nature of the threat. The main
objective is the protection of the students and staff members. School
administrators have a variety of "tools" to use and have received training
on how to work with each of these. The ability to remain flexible is a key
component of each school's plan and of district-wide preparations.
Additionally, FHSD would follow direction from public safety officials.
If you have questions about your child or about your school's safety and
support responses, please contact your principal. Everyone in Francis Howell
School District continues to work to make all our schools safe and secure
environments for all our students. Overview and Resources
Francis Howell School District (FHSD)
Other
FHSD broadcasts emergency messages, when necessary, using a number of
media. General emergency messages and early and late school openings and
closings can be found on the
school system public web home page. Emergency messages are sent by
e-mail to subscribers of
ENEWS.
Emergency messages are transmitted to local media, and parents are
encouraged to listen to the radio or television.
Effective crisis response is a team effort. In Francis Howell School
District, three offices play lead roles in shaping the organization's
response to critical incidents. In any such event, these offices work with
each other, with the leaders at the site, and with public safety officials
to provide immediate and coordinated action.
Crisis management
Leading the immediate and long-term response to the incident itself is
the Administrative Services. Sound planning and preparation is key.
- The Administrative Services Department has designed extensive
materials to help FHSD schools and departments with this work.
- For more information, contact Mr. Rick Pavia, Director of Facilities and Operations 636-851-6300.
Crisis communications
Ensuring that students, staff members, parents, the media, and the
community have accurate and timely information during a crisis is the
responsibility of the Superintendent’s Office.
Crisis Intervention
Providing care and support for students and staff members affected by a
crisis is led by crisis response teams staffed by school psychologists,
social workers, and counselors.
- Information on crisis response teams composed of school
counselors, social workers, and psychologists, with additional
support staff
- Resources for dealing with crisis
- For more information, contact Jennifer Patterson coordinator for
crisis intervention,
jennifer.patterson@fhsdschools.org
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