Crisis Response and Safety Team Training for PTO Co-Chairs - 2011
A crisis—disruption usually brought on by traumatic events—is unpredictable and overwhelming for those who experience it.
Examples:
• Death of parent, student or staff member
• Serious illness/parent, student or staff member
• Building-based emergency, such as an oil leak or a boiler breakdown
• Onset of war or terrorist acts
• Natural disasters
The goal of the PTOs is to provide support to families to get through the crisis, trying to reduce short and long term consequences. We want to keep things as normal as possible for the children.
The role of the PTO co-chairs includes:
• Provide basic creature comfort support to the school community
• Follow lead of Principal/Administrator
• Provide consistency/continuity of support
• Be flexible and stay calm
• Know the roles of other members and direct information as designated
• Leave ego needs behind
If there is a crisis:
• Contact the principal
• Contact Marcia or Sue
• Communicate with the school safety team and with the community as needed
Tips:
• Know your evacuation site, and add it to your school directory
• Create budget line for crisis use
• Have list of friendly community “donators”
• Have list of parents who can help in emergency situations. Regarding needs for a specific family, approach a close family friend who can relay the family’s wishes to others.
• Review emergency procedures specific to your school with your principal
• Keep away from offers of financial support to family, unless it is to pass along information about a fund.
• Remember that what you do for one family, you need to be able to do for other families in similar situations.
• Always ask for help…and put Sue’s phone number in your cell phone!
CERT (Citywide Emergency Response Team) and School Safety Teams
Newton is prepared! A true citywide emergency group meets regularly and focuses on wider environmental crises, such as a flu epidemic or a water main break. CERT is focused on schools, and discusses not only preparedness for actual physical emergencies, but also issues of social and emotional health, such as suicide.
CERT has asked all principals to have lockdown drills, shelter-in-place drills, etc. though they are not mandated. Only regular fire drills are mandated by law.
Who is on CERT?
• District Administrators
• Mental Health Administrators/Leaders
• Health Department Leaders
• School Nurse Leader
• City Building Representative
• Police/Fire/Ambulance
• PTO Council Representative (see below for description of role)
Who is on a School Safety Team? (still in progress but would mostly likely include)
• Principal
• School nurse
• Staff representatives
• Custodian
• Mental Health professional
• Parent/PTO rep
Role of PTO Council Rep:
• Provide support and guidance to PTO Presidents
• Serve as liaison to CERT team
• Provide backup support from other PTOs
• Provide resource and referral information
• Follow up support as needed
Useful Definitions:
Lockdown: protective action employed to safeguard people when there is an armed perpetrator approaching the school, on school grounds, or in the school.
Shelter-in-place: A hazard outside may require sheltering in place. It is a temporary strategy designed to be used when there is insufficient time to evacuate to a safe location away from the school and it is safer to remain inside.