Emergency Information

Emergency Guidelines for Parents

Monroe City Schools is committed to providing a safe environment for students, employees and visitors.
District personnel work collaboratively with national, state, and local safety officials-police, fire, emergency medical services, and public health- in order to ensure that all of the schools are well prepared for an emergency. The district developed a district-wide Crisis Response Plan that serves as a guide to help employees and safety partners respond swiftly should a crisis arise.

Parents should be assured to know that the safety procedures in place in the schools are extensive. Each school has a Crisis Response Team and safety measures in place to provide a safe learning environment for students. All employees are prepared to respond to a wide variety of school emergencies.

Facts and Terms Every Parent Should Know

Should an emergency situation occur at your child’s school, it is important that parents are familiar with the following terms:

Lockdown

During an internal lockdown, all school interior and exterior doors are locked and students are confined to their classrooms and no entry or exit is permissible. This takes place when there is a possible threat inside or outside of the school.

Evacuation

An evacuation to a Shelter-in-Place may be necessary for the following situations: arson, fire, explosion, hazardous materials leak/spill, bomb threat, or inclement weather (tornado, hurricane, severe thunderstorms). Each school has a procedure for helping parents locate their children. Parents will be directed to a specific location where they will be required to show proper identification.

Shelter-In-Place

This refers to taking refuge in an area inside or outside of a school until it is safe to release students.
For example, this procedure may be implemented inside for hazardous materials that have been released into the atmosphere. This procedure may also be implemented outside (away from the school) in case there is a bomb threat. Every school in our district has inside and outside Shelter-In-Place locations.

Before a crisis or natural disaster occurs:

Ensure that your child’s enrollment form is current with accurate address and phone numbers and contains emergency contact information (doctor’s name and family contacts with authority to pick up your child).
Check the MCS webpage for current information due to inclement weather or other emergency situations.
Stay tuned to local television or radio stations for updates on schedule changes for schools.

In the event of a crisis or natural disaster:

Please do not call the school, transportation or school board office. Phones lines, if working will be used for emergency communication.
Stay away from a school campus if it is in “lockdown” mode. You will not be allowed inside. Emergency protocol prevents administrators and teachers from opening doors under ANY circumstances. They are working to maintain calm and ensure children’s safety. It is important for parents to respect this protocol.
Students may or may not be kept at home during a crisis situation. The superintendent and Public Relations Officer will keep parents apprised of events through the local television stations (KTVE and KNOE) and local radio stations (105 AM, 100.1 FM, and 97.3 FM).
No elementary children will be dismissed from school unless a parent or approved designee arrives with proper identification. Elementary children may be moved to a different school site is the crisis is localized.
Bus Riders will remain with their drivers. If a child has been left off his or her regular bus stop prior to the disaster, you should expect to find your child at home. For children who are still on a bus, the driver will make his/her way back to school as conditions permit. If it is too hazardous to move the bus, children will remain on the bus until help arrives.
Schools are the safest places where children can be during most crises. All school employees will remain with the children until all have been reunited with their parents or approved designees.