District updates emergency operation plans, adds measles and bomb-threat annexes and deploys Rave app

Yuma Union High School District officials told the governing board they have revised emergency operation plans (EOPs) to include a communicable-disease threat annex, a bomb-threat annex and updated procedures for gas leaks, and they reported full deployment of the Rave mass-notification app across district campuses.

Beau, the district director of health and safety, introduced Sergeant Heath Daniels, the newly assigned SRO from the Yuma Police Department, and briefed the board on multiple EOP updates. Beau said the Arizona Department of Education’s revised EOP template is easier to read and that the district treats EOPs as “working documents” that will be continuously revised with law enforcement and public-health partners.

The district said it added a communicable-disease threat annex to provide pre-incident, during-incident and post-incident guidance for outbreaks such as measles. Beau told the board that a recent multi-agency briefing indicated rising measles cases nationally and regional outbreaks, and the district developed a measles-specific response annex in coordination with local public-health officials.

The EOP revisions also include a bomb-threat annex developed with the Yuma Police Department’s EOD specialists; the plan specifies standoff distances and safe locations and provides staff with a concise guidance card for front-office personnel who receive threats. Facilities staff also updated gas-leak procedures after regional training with Southwest Gas.

Beau described the Rave app, which has been deployed districtwide. He said the app provides one-touch notification that complements 911 and supplies first responders with geo-mapped campus maps, entry points and Knox-box locations. “It doesn’t replace 911, but it will absolutely assist us and our law enforcement partners in a response,” Beau said. He reported that the district tested Rave with dispatchers from Yuma, Somerton and San Luis police departments and that command centers can view maps and access points when a campus incident is reported.

A board member asked whether the EOPs are open to public inspection. Beau said EOPs are not subject to public inspection because they include personally identifying information and detailed operational plans; however, board members may review EOPs by arrangement.

No formal action was taken; the board received the report and thanked the safety team.