Comprehensive Safety, Security, Risk and Emergency Management Plan

Arlington Public Schools strives to be the leader in public school education safety, security, risk and emergency management practices. Committed to a continuous cycle of improvement, our comprehensive safety, security, risk and emergency management plan outlines our current commitments (practices) and improvements we are dedicated to. Developed in a unique framework consisting of Preparedness and Response, Infrastructure and Personnel, and Behavior and Mental Health, the plan website is updated with improvement completion dates, new initiatives, and enhancements to facilities quarterly.

Preparedness and Response – A commitment to ensure accurate and timely communication and training are available to all employees of Arlington Public Schools in order to best serve the students and families attending an Arlington public school.
Commitments

Number	Title	Description
1	School Safety Coordinators	All high school and middle school facilities to have a full-time school school safety coordinators.
2	Crisis Management Team	All school facilities to have a trained crisis management team.
3	Emergency Management Plan	Develop and distribute an emergency management plan and procedures manual to all school facilities.
4	Public Safety Collaboration	Arlington Public Schools as a division collaborates on the development of procedures with Arlington County Police and Arlington County Fire & Rescue Department.
5	Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)	An agreement with Arlington County Police was signed by Arlington Public Schools outlining the support and approach law enforcement will take in securing school facilities.
6	Training	Training is provided at all levels of employees to ensure that individuals feel comfortable with their role in an emergency.
7	Exercise	Arlington Public Schools is committed to conducting practice drills of emergency procedures with each individual school and as a school division.

Improvements

Number	Title	Description	Target Completion
1	Policies and Plans	Continuous improvement on lessons learned helps improve Arlington Public Schools preparedness and response policies and plans.	On-going

Infrastructure and Personnel – A commitment to state of the art security and safety mechanisms (e.g., door locks, digital cameras, access control, etc…) and the employment of personnel with the expertise in safety, security, and emergency management.
Commitments

Number	Title	Description
1	Secure Buildings	All school facilities perimeter doors remain locked and checked regularly.
2	Access Control	Provided where appropriate electronic access that restricts the entrance of individuals into school facilities.
3	Key Access	Provided where appropriate physical hard key access that restricts the entrance and access of individuals into school facilities.
4	Communications	Arlington Public Schools are able to communicate inside and outside of school property with Arlington County Police and Arlington Fire & Rescue personnel.
5	Security Cameras	Installation of security cameras has been completed and access is provided during emergencies to public safety officials.
6	Transportation Security	All Arlington Public School buses are equipped with camera systems. New buses are purchased with a camera systems and standardized with our design and procurement standards. Some exclusions apply to smaller “buses.”
7	Transportation Security	A number of Arlington Public School buses are equipped with stop arm cameras to assist Arlington County Police with enforcement of school safety.

Improvements

Number	Title	Description	Target Completion
1	Visitor Management	Evaluate a uniform visitor management system for each school facility and its location.	Complete
2	Visitor Management	Purchase and install a uniform visitor management system for each school facility as determined through evaluation.	Complete
3	Access Control	Swipe card access points are being evaluated and installed as appropriate on relocatable classrooms.	Complete
4	Key Access	Installation of additional key access security in instructional classroom.	Complete
5	Relocatable Buildings	Swipe card access points are being evaluated and installed as appropriate on relocatable classrooms.	Complete
6	Personnel	An emergency management professional, certified by the international association of emergency management was hired.	Complete
7	Security Cameras	Evaluation of security camera placement of new security cameras is being conducted at each school.	On-going
8	Design Standards	Capital design standards are being changed in capital projects scheduled for Education Center Re-Use and Career Center in the placement and access of the school through a central office.	On-going

Behavior and Mental Health Support – A commitment to providing the social and emotional learning experience for all students and families attending an Arlington public school.
Commitments

Number	Title	Description
1	Threat Assessment Team	The school division has a trained threat assessment team compromised of school administration, safety and security professionals, law enforcement, human resources and behavior/mental health professionals.
2	Social and Emotional Learning Framework	A prevention effort focused on a tiered approach to interventions focusing on student’ social and emotional needs.
3	Crisis Counseling Teams	Behavioral and mental health professionals at each school and subsequent back-up school operate in a team based approach during a crisis to support students.
4	School Based Professionals	Staff focused on the behavioral and mental health of the whole child are placed at each school. Focusing on a range of topics from social work, substance abuse, etc…

Improvements

Number	Title	Description	Target Completion
1	Threat Assessment Training	Training to identify and report threats and the appropriate initial interventions to assessed threats.	On-going
2	Social Emotional Learning Framework	Coordinated prevention working group developed to work on Social and Emotional Learning services and support delivered through the ATSS Model.	On-going
3	Crisis Counseling Teams	Update to crisis counseling team procedures and processes including the deployment of staff from alternate and feeder schools to a crisis location.	On-going
4	Expertise of Professionals	Maintain a list of all staff their role and responsibilities including applicable licensure in behavior and mental health.	On-going