Safety and Security

HOW WILL PARENTS KNOW IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS?

Parkland School District uses a mass communications system, the District website, Facebook, and Twitter as part of its ongoing efforts to communicate with students, families, and staff.  In an emergency, the mass communications system will be used to contact parents directly via telephone as quickly as possible.  A variety of critical situations that impact children, ranging from a bus accident or severe weather and power outages to emergencies that may cause a school to evacuate, shelter, or lockdown, will trigger a phone call.  School Messenger may also be used by individual schools to communicate important routine information to their school community.

Watch for a phone call, email, or text message with information sent via the PSD mass communication system.

Visit the PSD website at www.parklandsd.org
Check the PSD Facebook page at https://facebook.com/PSDistrict
Check the PSD Twitter account at https://twitter.com/ParklandSchools

Every parent who has a child attending Parkland schools is automatically signed up to receive messages through School Messenger; however, it is up to you to keep the school informed of any changes to your email address, phone numbers, or emergency contacts.  In order for Parkland School District to contact you as quickly as possible when an emergency occurs, the District must have accurate contact information for all parents.

Whenever a parent changes a phone number or e-mail address, they need to notify their child’s school as soon as possible so that their information can be updated.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO TO PREPARE FOR A SCHOOL EMERGENCY?

• Ensure your school has accurate emergency contact information for your child and notify the school if it changes.
• Identify who would be authorized to pick up your child if there is a school or community emergency.  Make sure anyone identified is listed as an emergency contact in your child’s student emergency information.

Communicate with your child about being prepared for emergencies.  This includes understanding drills, such as fire drills, and taking them seriously.  It also includes recognizing anything that is out of the ordinary or unusual in the school day and reporting it to an adult at school.

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD TO DO IF A SCHOOL EMERGENCY OCCURS?

• If there is an emergency at one of the Parkland schools, wait for official instructions to be communicated using the mass communication system.  LISTEN!  This telephone message will inform you of what has happened and what (if anything) you should do.
• Please do not call the school.  Phone lines and staff are needed for emergency response efforts and incoming calls consume these important resources.
• Please do not go to the school unless instructed.  Traffic congestion impedes the movement of emergency vehicles, reduce response times by first responders, and can make a difficult situation much worse.

HOW CAN I BE REUNITED WITH MY CHILD IN AN EMERGENCY?

• Students will be kept in school or at another shelter site until it is safe to release them.  If a normal bus dismissal is not possible you will be asked to pick up your child.  The reunification site and the time when you can meet your child will be communicated.  Make sure to monitor all communications from the District.
• When you go to the reunification site, bring a picture I.D. (e.g., driver’s license, passport, etc.) and check in with school officials.
• Students will be released to guardians or emergency contacts who have acceptable identification and who are named in the student information database.  If a listed contact cannot pick up a child, the child will remain at the reunification site until confirmation to release the child can be received from a listed contact.  MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD’S CONTACT INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE!

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO FOLLOWING AN EMERGENCY AT SCHOOL?

• Listen to and acknowledge your child’s feelings and concerns.
• Provide reassurance to your child that they are safe, and that school is safe.
• Seek help from school personnel or a mental health professional if needed.