SDMA Procedures for Emergency Communications

After an incident last week with a student threat to the local schools, the district has issued the following note:

Dear SDMA Families and Staff,

It has been an eventful week in the School District of the Menomonie Area, and it is only Wednesday! In addition to many wonderful classroom activities and a number of fun homecoming events, the district also had to work through the previously noted security issue at MHS, and a traffic accident yesterday afternoon involving a school bus. Thankfully no students or staff were harmed in either situation, with protocols followed and support services mobilized to assist in an efficient and effective manner. Thank you to Menomonie Transportation, the Menomonie Police Department, Menomonie EMS, and everyone in the school district for being well prepared and ready to assist at a moment's notice.

When emergency situations arise, everyone's first priority is the health and safety of students and staff. The SDMA has established safety plans and procedures to help direct an appropriate response. Most emergency situations involve close collaboration with other community partners that may include law enforcement, emergency services, and the bus company. The school district's student services department also provides support.

In addition to communicating with support services, the school district recognizes the importance of communicating with families, and values parent involvement with our schools. The timing and type of family communications surrounding a potential emergency may vary based on the particular situation, but parents can expect to be notified anytime their children experience an emergency situation involving the school. Here are some examples of what parents can expect:

• If there is an active situation where schools may need to be closed for inclement weather, facility problems (like no electricity, heat, or water), or a serious safety reason (like a security threat), a simultaneous announcement will be made as soon as practical via email, text message, social media, and an automated phone call.
• If a situation occurs that is important to safety and security but does not represent an immediate threat (like this week's security issue that was determined by law enforcement to be non-threatening), a districtwide or schoolwide email message will be sent to inform families and raise awareness.
• If a situation occurs that involves an individual student or small group of students (like an accident at school or a relatively minor traffic accident), individual communications to families will be made by school staff or the bus company.

In regard to communications related to emergency situations, families should please understand:

• Families need to keep contact information current in the Skyward Family Access portal (see p. 3 of the SDMA Back to School Newsletter). This system houses the emergency contact information that school staff may need to contact families during an emergency, and this is the system the district uses for automated emails, phone calls, and text messages.
• The first priority for the district during an emergency is to respond to the situation and help ensure the health and safety of students and staff.
• The school district often collaborates with local law enforcement, the bus company, the National Weather Service, and other community partners and needs to balance what can be shared during an active situation or an open investigation.
• As circumstances change during an active situation (like changing weather patterns or the investigation into a potential threat), multiple messages may be needed to keep families well informed.
• Privacy laws for students and staff need to be considered when sharing information.
• The school district cannot control what is shared on the news or by others on social media.
• While the school district may use social media to share information, the school district does not engage in conversations on social media. Questions or concerns should be directed to the school district via phone, email, or in person.
• Every situation is unique, but the school district can be counted on to share important information in a timely manner.

Thanks again to all SDMA staff and community partners who do a terrific job providing our children with a safe and secure learning environment. Please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher, school counselor, building principal, or me if you have any questions or concerns about school safety or emergency communications in the SDMA.

Best regards,

Joe Zydowsky
___________________________________
Joseph E. Zydowsky, PhD
District Administrator
School District of the Menomonie Area
215 Pine Avenue NE
Menomonie, WI 54751
[email protected]
www.twitter.com/joezydowsky
Phone: (715) 232-1642