District safety committee reports countywide radios, SRP updates and Safe School by Design planning

The Homer Central School District safety committee told the board on May 27 that the district has put countywide radios into use for administrators and district buses, is planning a transition to a new safety app, and is incorporating Safe School by Design Act provisions into future building projects.

A committee member said administrators in every building and the area director now have countywide radios that allow district staff to communicate with local public safety (fire and police) and that the radios — installed in buses as well — include an emergency button that, if pressed and active for 10 seconds, triggers a countywide emergency call-out.

"What that means is that we have the ability to communicate not only with each other in the buildings, but with county wide, public safety, with fire, with police," the committee member said. The committee reported the radios are being used permanently by district staff.

The committee also said the district uses a safety app called Navigate Prepared and is moving to a new safety app; standard response protocol (SRP) cards will be posted in every classroom and room to guide staff and substitutes during drills and emergencies. The committee said Mike Bonbell, the district safety officer, has worked with vendors and partner agencies to update protocols and parent communications about drills.

The committee noted that the Safe School by Design Act adds safety-related requirements to building projects; architects and the district safety and facilities committees will include the new elements in future planning. Finally, the speaker said a revised state classroom temperature policy takes effect Sept. 1; the new guidance loosens previous temperature limits and the district will provide information to staff and families before that date.

The board treated the report as informational; no formal board action was recorded.