enhance our safety precautions wherein all students, staff and parents feel safe while on school
properties. Our district safety is comprehensive and encompasses all local and governmental
agencies which provide support and guidance into this plan. The plan is designed to prevent or
minimize the effects of serious violent incidents and emergencies and to facilitate an interagency
agreement with the Appling County Sheriff’s Department. We have a contract with the Appling County
Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) where in all schools have on duty everyday school resource deputies
(SRD’s). These security personnel are in place to support the mission of the school system and
maintain a lawful presence and environment in all schools. Each school has its own safety plan that is
mirrored to the system/district plan with more detailed emergency responses/plan required and
necessary for their respective schools and population. The schools are responsible for maintaining
their plan and executing all required drills and operations and all reporting that is mandated by the
state of Georgia, GMEA and Homeland Security.
School Drill Guidelines
Based upon the provisions and charge of Code § 25-2-31 of the official
Code of Georgia the State Fire Marshal’s Office is charged with the
responsibility to carry on a statewide program of fire prevention education
in the schools of this state and to establish fire drills therein.
International Fire Code under § 404.2 to require an approved Fire Safety
and Evacuation Plan, shall be prepared and maintained for educational
occupancies and buildings. Fire evacuation drills must be conducted
monthly with all occupants participating. Reporting of all drills must be
submitted electronically to the Office of the Safety Fire Commissioner.
As stated in the 2012 International Fire Code, § 408.3.1, First emergency
evacuation drill of each school year shall/must be conducted within ten
(10) days of the beginning of classes (or school starting).
One additional emergency egress and relocation drill, other than for
educational occupancies that are open on a year-round basis, shall/must
be required within the first 30 days of operation.
Additionally, as stated in the Life Safety Code 101 Handbook, § 14.7.1.2
(3), Emergency egress and relocation drills shall/must be conducted as
follows:
In summary, two (2) fire drills must be conducted and reported online
within the first 30 days of school opening, with the first fire drill due within
the first ten (10) days of the start of school. After the first two, the fire drills
are conducted and reported online once monthly.
Additionally, In September “all schools are permitted to substitute the
required Fire Drill for the month of September to conduct the mandatory
“Intruder Alert” Drill. This drill will need to be documented on GMEA and
Homeland Security’s website and also on Office of the Commissioner of
Insurance and Safety Fire’s reports tool.” https://oci.georgia.gov/safety-
fire-reporting-education.
However, during the months of November and February, the Georgia
State Fire Marshal’s Office requires a severe weather is conducted and
reported online, instead of a fire drill. If your school must conduct a fire drill
during the months of November and February, the severe weather drill is
the only drill to be placed online.
The development of the District Safety Plan is pursuant to Georgia H.B. 763 § 20-2-
1185. The District Safety Team directed by the Safety Director and Student Services
Coordinator makes recommendations regarding the development, maintenance,
update, and implementation of the district safety plan. It has been approved by the
Georgia Emergency Management Agency and is updated annually.
Each school in the district has a safety team comprised of stakeholders and personnel
from across the school and the schools resource deputy.
The school’s safety plans are directly linked to the district safety plan.
The District Safety Plan provides a framework for the school safety plans. The purpose of a uniform
plan is to ensure a district-wide continuity for emergency responses. These general
emergency responses will provide one consistent response system that will be used by
all school employees, students, parents, local and state law enforcement and
emergency responders. This is advantageous as students move from elementary,
middle and high school and as substitute employees provide support among our
schools.
ACSS has established procedures for potential sites that are utilized during evacuations
and potential hazards. These procedures are developed in coordination with local
Emergency Management, law enforcement, fire department and other governmental
municipalities.
Personnel, actions, and responses to emergencies that are identified in the plan.
These actions are listed, but not limited to:
The district addresses security issues involving transporting of student to and from
school and school functions when transportation is furnished by the school or school
system and school functions during non-instructional time by training staff and bus
drivers. Bus drivers have monthly safety meetings and participate in student bus
evacuation exercises monthly, as well.Policies and procedures for responding to implied, or direct threats of violence or
acts of violence by students, teachers, other school personnel and visitor to the
school.
ACSS has policies and procedures dealing with violence. These policies and
procedures deal with safety of the school as well as the range of discipline of those
making threats or committing the act of violence and are included in the ACSS Code of
Conduct and the schools Code of Conduct.Appropriate response to emergencies
ACSS identifies that appropriate response to emergencies varies depending upon the
actual threat or act as well as the magnitude of such emergency. The School
Emergency Response Plans (Safety Notebook) detail the appropriate response to such
emergencies.Policies and procedures to contact parents, guardians or persons in parental
relation to the students in the event of a violent incident or an early dismissal.
ACSS will contact appropriate parents, guardians or person in parental relation via
media release, telephone contact or other appropriate means in the event of a violent
incident or early dismissal. Conditions requiring such notification are outlined in the
confidential School Emergency Response Plans (Safety Notebook)The District Safety Plan provides a framework for the school safety plans with
regard to communication with other agencies.a. ACSS is fortunate to have ties to the Appling County community. In the event of
an emergency within any of our facilities, that facility would call 911 for
emergency assistance. If involvement were needed from other local government
agencies, then the superintendent or their designee would act as the contact
person. Additional procedural guidelines for communication can be found in the
building-level safety plans.b. Arrangements for obtaining advice and assistance from local government officials
including county and city officials responsible for implementation of HB763 will be
carried out through the protocols established in the district’s emergency safety
plan. The district has identified resources from the following agencies: City of
Baxley/Baxley Police Department, Appling County Sheriff’s Office, Appling
County Department of Public Health, Appling HealthCare System, Baxley-
Appling County Recreation Department, Baxley Fire Department, Appling County
Department of Family & Children’s Services, Appling County Emergency
Management Agency, Appling County Emergency Medical Services, American
Red Cross, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
WBYZ Radio Station and the Baxley News Banner, Georgia Emergency
Management Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Homeland
Security. (Mental Health? Ministerial Alliance? Counseling?)c. If there is an emergency within the district that has the potential to impact bus
transportation capabilities either to for from other educational agencies within the
district boundaries, the Transportation Director in close coordination with the
superintendent and/or their designee will activate Messenger 2.0
call/text/inbox/portal announcement portion of Infinite Campus to inform all
necessary parties. In the event that the phone lines are down and not
operational, social media (Facebook, school district digital radios, and district
website) will be utilized to send relevant emergency information.d. Furthermore, with Messenger 2.0, the district has access to the following
information about each facility located in the school district, including information
on: contact person, school population, number of staff, number of students
present, transportation needs, school maps and business, cell and landline
phone numbers of key officials of each facility. The details are considered, due to
the school specific information and administrator home phone numbers, and are
located in the confidential School Emergency Preparedness Plan.Prevention and Interventionsa. Policies and procedures related to district and school building security,
including, where applicable, the use of school safety resource deputies
and/or security devices procedures. ACSS utilizes visitor identification passes,
reference checks and fingerprinting for all staff. The district priorities include
creating and maintaining a sing point of entry, security cameras, security window
reception areas including restricted access door, secure fencing, in certain areas;
other outdoor measures, and additional security measures, as needed. Each
facility will maintain their respective security policies and procedures, as
appropriate, and may be found in the confidential school safety plan.b. Policies and procedures for dissemination of informative materials. The
district will work to identify youth at risk and to provide necessary support
services to all students, beginning at an early age. The district will maintain
resources for early detection of potentially violent behaviors. Violence prevention
information may be disseminated to parents, students or staff via handbooks,
mailings/handouts, or meetings as appropriate. ACSS is committed to the use of
interpersonal violence prevention education for all students, when available. Ann
prevention training is conducted for instructional and support staff.c. Prevention and intervention strategies. ACSS provides, but is not limited to,
the following initiatives to improve communication and increase violence
prevention and intervention: Character education and anti-bullying, Conflict
resolution, anger management, counseling, crisis prevention intervention, Peer
mediation and adult/peer mediation, student support groups, (Others)d. Strategies for improving communication among students and between
students and staff, and for reporting of potentially violent incidents. ACSS
recognizes that communication is a vital key in the prevention and intervention of
violence in schools. To that end, ACSS will continue to explore programs based
on need. The district referral process is utilized for the reporting of potentially
violent incidents according to the building chain of command and following the
ACSS Code of Conduct. Moreover, student counselors and mental health
counselors in conjunction with Student Services Department are available each
day for students to share information where the source can remain confidential.
The district also uses threat detection instruments, applications and anonymous
online reporting. (App … “See One…Tell One”?)Recoverya. Post Incident Response:The Crisis Counseling Protocol and team will institute
a plan as outlined in the district and schools plans.
Disaster mental Health Services
b. Disaster Mental Health Services:The superintendent, or their designee, will assist in the coordination of Disaster Mental Health Resources and the implementation of the Crisis Response Plan. During the recovery phase of anincident, the district/school will reevaluate its current violence prevention and
school safety activities and consider what the school can do to improve its plan.
