What is emergency preparedness?

Steps have been taken to ensure your child's safety while in school. Each school has developed a crisis response plan. Emergency preparedness is basically preparing the steps you will take in the event of an emergency, such as contact information, communications, and evacuation plans.

How can I stay informed?

Emergency messages, when necessary, are broadcast using a number of media. General emergency messages, early and late school openings and closings can be found on http://www.rahway.net/ , the district’s homepage, and on local cable Channel 35. Emergency messages are also posted on 732-396-1000 - #1 or any school main number - #1. Emergency messages are transmitted to local media, and parents are encouraged to listen to radio or television.

How will my child's school handle an emergency situation?

Each school has an emergency preparedness plan. The specifics of each plan differ for each location. The response to each situation will differ based on the specifics of that situation. The flexibility of the plan is key to the success of the response. In general, each plan involves the designation of a crisis management team; development of evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures; checklists for dealing with specific types of incidents; and resources for help before, during and after an event.

How can I see the security plan for my child's school?

We do not release this type of specific information, however, each principal is prepared to discuss the plan with you. Any questions you might have about a school’s plans are best addressed to the principal of that school.

What is lockdown?

An emergency may prevent the safe evacuation of a school building and require steps to isolate students and faculty from danger by instituting a school lockdown. In an interior lockdown situation, all students are kept in classrooms or other designated locations that are away from the danger. Faculty members are responsible for accounting for students and ensuring that no one leaves the safe area. School personnel will also secure building entrances, ensuring that no unauthorized individuals leave or enter the building. Exterior lockdown procedures may also be used to ensure the safety of students when an incident occurs in the community. Parents are permitted access to the building and to their children if it is safe for them to do so.

In the event of an emergency situation, terrorist attack or act of war, will the Rahway Public Schools go into lockdown?

The specific actions taken in any emergency situation-both district-wide and at individual schools will depend on the specifics of the situation. Any action taken would depend on several factors, including the level of threat and the advice of local, state, and federal agencies. The safety of students and staff members will be the primary concern in any decision.

What is shelter-in-place?

Shelter-in-place is a short-term solution to a short-term problem. If an accident or attack that created contaminated air occurred in the nearby area, everyone would be brought indoors, including those in trailers. Building personnel would close all windows and doors and shut down the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC).

Shelter-in-place is a short-term measure (measured in minutes or hours, not days) designed to use a facility and its indoor atmosphere to temporarily separate people from a hazardous outdoor environment. The alternative would be to evacuate into a hazardous situation, thereby causing harm to all involved.

No stockpiling of water and food is needed for shelter-in-place. Any event of a magnitude that required such stockpiling would require that we all take our direction from the federal, state, or local emergency management officials. Parents are concerned that, during a shelter-in-place activity, they couldn't pick up their children and might be separated from them for long periods of time. To the extent that it is safe for parents to move about the community, they will not be denied access to their children. It is not the school system's intention to keep children from their parents. District personnel are merely endeavoring to keep children safe for parents until it is safe for parents to pick them up.

What measures are being taken for students in trailers?

If an accident or attack that created contaminated air occurred in the nearby area, everyone would be brought into the school building, including those in trailers.

In the event of a lockdown or shelter-in-place, how will I reunite with or have access to my children?

We do not intend to keep children from their parents if a crisis occurs during school hours or school activities. It is the school system's intent to make sure that children are safe inside their schools until such a time that the threat has been reduced. Parents will be informed of the parent-student reunification center location via http://www.rahway.net/ , the district’s homepage, on local cable Channel 35, or by calling 732-396-1000 - #1 or any school main number - #1.

What if children are evacuated away from the school site?

If public safety officials require that a school building be evacuated, parents will be informed of the reunification location via http://www.rahway.net/ , the district’s homepage, on local cable Channel 35, or by calling 732-396-1000 - #1 or any school main number - #1. If the situation requiring evacuation warrants, notices of reunification plans will also be posted on the main entrance door of the school. At the reunification center, students will be released to their parents upon presentation of proper identification.

Are schools stockpiling food and water?

No, most of the envisioned emergency situations would be localized short-term events and would not call for long-term supplies. It is unreasonable to expect our facilities to stockpile three days worth of food and water inside each facility for each person. Likewise, shopping malls and other businesses are not expected to perform this type of long-term shelter. In the event of a large-scale catastrophic event, we are dependent upon the assistance of federal or state agencies

Can I pick up my child before the normal dismissal time?

Parents are allowed to pick up their children unless public safety officials have declared a shelter-in-place response, or there is some other reason why access to the facility is restricted. Each school’s pick-up procedures require parents to report to the main office or other designated location and present identification. Parents will not be allowed access to individual classrooms. During any emergency, school personnel will maintain as safe and normal environment for children within the school as is possible. School is not automatically canceled in emergency situations. Remember, school may be the safest place for children to be.

Who can pick up my children?

Parents , guardians, or those individuals who have been authorized to do so may pick up children. Anyone picking up a child before normal dismissal time will be asked for proper identification.

How can I authorize someone to pick up my child(ren)?

The principal of each school has asked parents and guardians to provide current contact information and the names and phone numbers of up to three (3) individuals who are authorized to pick up their child(ren) from school in the event of any crisis/emergency when you are unavailable. If you have not yet responded to that request or wish to change that information you must contact the principal of your child(ren)’s school. All individuals picking up students will need to show proper identification such as a driver’s license.

What about my child's medication?

If your child takes medication regularly, you, the parent, should make sure that the school has an appropriate amount of additional medication on hand. Talk with your child's school nurse for more information.

Are students allowed to have cell phones at school?

Students are not allowed to have cell phones turned on during the school day. In the event of an emergency, on a case-by-case basis, students will be allowed to use their phones to communicate with parents when authorized by the principal or teacher. It is important to recognize that in an emergency situation, however, cell phone circuits may become overloaded, interfering with public safety's ability to communicate. Student's use of cell phones during an emergency will be appropriately limited.

Can I contact my child?

To keep phone lines accessible for handling the specific situation, parents are asked not to call the school in emergency situations. To the extent possible, parents will be informed of the an emergency situation via http://www.rahway.net/ , the district’s homepage, on local cable Channel 35, or by calling 732-396-1000 - #1 or any school main number - #1.

How will my children know what to do in the event of a terrorist attack?

Inform your children that, if a crisis occurs while they are in school, their teacher will provide them with appropriate instructions.

Parents are also encouraged to prepare a family disaster plan and practice it so that everyone will remember what to do if a disaster does occur. Everyone in the household, including children, should play a part in the family's response and recovery efforts. Teach your children how to recognize danger signals. Make sure your children know what smoke detectors, fire alarms, and local community warning systems (horns, sirens) sound like.

Will children be allowed to view events via live television or radio reports?

No, in the event of a terrorist attack or other crisis, teachers will be informed as to the appropriate actions to take. Depending on the age of the students, appropriate information will be provided.

How are field trips handled?

The impact of any critical situation on field trips will depend on the specifics of the situation. If the situation warrants, all field trips will be canceled. Cancellations could also include travel to shared time vocational schools, community programs, and other events. There may be circumstances that could require the cancellation of field trips to certain areas. If a field trip is under way and must be recalled, buses would be directed to return to the school or a designated safe area. Parents are reminded that the Rahway Public Schools retains the right to cancel any field trip for safety reasons and is not responsible for any financial obligations parents may have.