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Rhinebeck officials outline 2026–27 school safety plan; 30‑day public comment to follow
Summary
Superintendent Michael Burke and district safety coordinator Jason Doerr presented proposed updates to the Rhinebeck Union Free School District safety plan covering NYSED regulation 155.17, expanded AED access, trauma‑informed drills and inclusion of before‑and‑after‑school activities; a 30‑day public comment period will open in June and the board aims to adopt the plan in August.
Superintendent Michael Burke and district safety coordinator Jason Doerr presented the Rhinebeck Union Free School District’s proposed safety plan for 2026–27, saying it aligns with New York State regulation 155.17 and covers prevention, response, protection and recovery for natural, technological, biological and adversarial incidents. Burke told the board the district developed the plan in cooperation with parents, the board, community partners and local law enforcement, and that the finalized district plan will be submitted to NYSED and local law enforcement by Oct. 1.
Doerr described the plan’s structure and recent updates: the public‑facing district plan standardizes terminology and incident command procedures across building annexes while confidential building plans contain operational details. "These drills can constitute, of evacuation drills, like fire drills, lockdown drills, and emergency dismissals," Doerr said, noting New York State’s emphasis on trauma‑informed approaches and the practice of announcing some drills in advance so families can prepare. He also highlighted infrastructure upgrades completed this year, including a secure entry vestibule at the high school, single points of entry, longer‑range radios, upgraded door locks that can be activated without manual locking, and bullet‑resistant window film.
The presentation listed 2026–27 additions meant to increase medical readiness and non‑daytime coverage: more visible AED signage and maintenance procedures, continued age‑appropriate sudden cardiac arrest training for staff and students, and explicit planning for before‑and‑after‑school events. Doerr emphasized planning for accessibility and functional needs for staff and students with mobility or health limitations. The administration said the draft will be posted for a 30‑day public comment period in June, revised based on feedback, and returned to the board for a public hearing and adoption in August with training implemented in the fall.
