AOS #94 has a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that addresses school crisis situations.

School and district administrators have been trained and drill on each type of emergency situation – with and without students present. The district has a strong relationship with all local municipalities to ensure our Emergency Operations Plan is up-to-date and thorough. The plan is updated annually to allow the best outcome in the event of a crisis, with guidance and oversight by the police departments that serve our district.

Each school site will conduct safety practices and drills (fire drills, lockdowns, etc.) with students and staff.

At the discretion of the site supervisor, drills may or may not be communicated to parents in advance.

To maintain the district’s laser focus on student and staff safety, specific details within the Emergency Operations Plan are not shared with the public.

MSAD #46 has long-standing relationships with the local police departments to ensure the safety procedures we have in place are met with their approval and expertise. We are also proud to partner with the police departments to provide a School Resource Officer. The SRO establishes relationships at Ridge View Community School, Dexter Regional High School, and Tri-County Technical Center, and local police departments will increase patrol in the immediate area at a school site, should they require it.

Athens Community School and Harmony Elementary School do not have a School Resource Officer.

The shelter-in-place protocol provides safe refuge for students, staff and visitors at the school. This might include a situation taking place in the community, near the proximity of the school or a biohazard situation. During a shelter-in-place, students and staff will remain indoors with the doors locked, as directed by either law enforcement or the school principal, although the educational learning environment may proceed as usual.

A Shelter-in-Place may be used for the following incidents: bee swarm, assault/fight on campus, police activity in the community, social media threat, etc.

Lockdowns may be issued in situations involving dangerous intruders or other incidents that may pose a threat to a student or staff’s immediate safety. During a lockdown, all interior and exterior doors will be locked. Parents and visitors will not be allowed on campus during a lockdown.

A Lockdown may be used in the following incidents: intruder, violent parent or guest, weapon on campus, social media threat, bomb threat, etc.

All schools in MSAD #46, Harmony, and Athens are in a “Soft-Lockdown” at all times during the school day while school is in session. A “Soft-Lockdown” means that all exterior doors remain locked throughout the school day while school is in session. All visitors must enter the school through the main entrance and register with the front office staff.

The district’s Evacuation protocol includes everything from evacuating from a room to another room – evacuating from one building to another – evacuating from a building to the school grounds – or evacuating off-site to an alternate location.

An Evacuation may be used in the following incidents: fire, bomb threat, fire, gas leak, power outage, suspicious package, etc.

In the event of an off-site evacuation, the district will implement its Reunification Plan and families will receive communication from the school district, advising them of the location and area in which they can pick up their child. Please note that proper identification will be required to further ensure a child’s safety.

The Emergency Operations Plan includes specific guidelines for relocating students with disabilities and non-English speaking students.

Parents will be notified during a school crisis or shortly thereafter, depending on how long the event lasts. It is critically important that parents follow the district’s protocol in the event of an emergency. The school will not answer their phone during an emergency. Parents and visitors will not be allowed on campus until the campus has been deemed safe.

Detailed information regarding the emergency situation will be shared on the district’s website at www.aos94.org/safety and will be updated as additional details become available.

Parents will also receive a phone, email and/or text message with details about the event. It is important to keep your contact information updated at your child’s school site. You can always check social media but remember that official district communication will always be shared directly on our website.

Please note that during a school crisis, the school may not answer the phone. The staff’s number one priority is to ensure everyone’s safety on campus. The district’s administrative team will share information with families once it has been verified.

Depending on the type of crisis situation, students may be asked to text their parents and let them know that they are safe. In some crisis situations, students will not be allowed to use their phones.

We know you have questions. Information will be shared as it becomes available to us as quickly as possible.