Emergency Procedures
August 1, 2024
This letter is to assure parents/guardians of our concern for the safety and welfare of students. Our Emergency Operations Plan provides for responses to all types of emergencies. Depending on the circumstances of the emergency, we will use one of the following protective responses.
Type of Protective Response
Immediate evacuation: Students are evacuated to a safe area on the school grounds in the event of a fire, etc.
Modified operation: This may include cancellation/postponement or rescheduling of normal activities. These actions are normally taken in case of a winter storm or building issues that make it unsafe for students (such as utility disruptions) but may be necessary in a variety of situations.
In-place sheltering: Sudden occurrences, weather or a hazardous materials issue, may dictate that taking cover inside the building is the best immediate response.
Evacuation: Total evacuation of the campus may become necessary if the school is in an endangered area. In this case, students may be taken to another facility outside of the endangered area (“host facility”).
Additionally, if your residence is in a disaster area and the school is not, your children will be cared for in their regular school location until the danger has subsided, or until you or your authorized designee can reach the school.
Please watch KDKA, WPXI, and WTAE for announcements relating to any of the emergency actions listed above. Additionally, when there is a delay, cancellation, or early dismissal, parents/guardians will receive a phone call from the district’s school messaging system, and an announcement will be placed on the district’s website at www.fcasd.edu. Please note that during a power outage, it may not be possible to place an announcement on the website.
We ask that you refrain from calling the school during an emergency. This will keep telephone lines open so that campus administrators will be able to make emergency calls and relay information to the media.
The district and/or the media will advise you when and where to reunify with your child(ren). This will help avoid traffic congestion that may impede the response of emergency vehicles and threaten the safety of students and staff.
You will need to do the following when reporting to the designated student release area:
- Produce a photo identifying yourself as the authorized person designated at the beginning of the school year to pick up the student(s); and
- Be prepared to sign a student release form.
During the registration and/or annual PowerSchool student update process, you identified the persons designated to pick up your child(ren). Please ensure that only those persons you listed attempt to pick up your child(ren).
In the event your student has a personal means of transportation at school at the time of the emergency or evacuation, your consent was given during registration and/or the annual student update to allow them to leave campus.
I specifically urge you not to telephone the school or attempt to make different arrangements during an emergency. This action will only create additional confusion and divert staff from their assigned emergency duties.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Catherine Reljac
Superintendent