Student services staff coordinate safety planning with fire, police and principals ahead of school year
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Summary
Student services staff reported building safety reviews and coordination with Norfolk Fire & Rescue and the district’s school resource officer to align response language and protocols for outside threats and major incidents.
The district’s student services office reported on school safety planning, including meetings with principals and local emergency responders to align response protocols for external threats.
Mister Hughes, director of student services, said he and school resource officer Officer Tietz compiled a list of possible outside threats and discussed scenarios such as hazardous shipping incidents near rail lines or industrial facilities. Hughes said he reviewed the district’s standard response protocols (SRP) with Norfolk Fire & Rescue captain Trevor O’Brien, clarifying how fire and rescue interpret terms such as “hold,” “secure,” “lockdown,” “evacuation” and “shelter.”
Hughes described joint training to ensure consistent phrasing and actions during an incident; he said rescue crews asked questions about dismissal and that building leaders will not dismiss students until safety has been assured. He also reported attending administrator days sessions on school safety and a school-law update.
Hughes said principals were engaged in identifying outside threats and that two principals’ visits remain on his schedule. He closed by noting the school year begins with staggered student start days and that staff are prepared for opening.
