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Attachment D6: DOE Emergency Preparedness Basic Plan; School and Worksite Administrator’s Responsibilities

Table of contents

Purpose 

To describe the School and Worksite Administrator’s roles and responsibilities for the implementation of the Department Emergency Preparedness Basic Plan in the event of an emergency or disaster. 

Background 

The DOE Emergency Preparedness Basic Plan establishes the requirements and responsibilities necessary for preparing and responding to emergencies and disasters. Key individuals in the DOE provide essential leadership for the implementation of this Plan. 

Prevention/Mitigation 

  1. Updates and maintains the school/site emergency response plans for dealing with emergencies and disasters. 
  2. Organizes and trains school/site Emergency Response Team (ERT) members based on the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS). 
  3. Identifies primary and secondary locations for the School/Site Emergency Operations Center. 
  4. Identifies order-of-succession to ensure continuity of operations in the absence of the school/worksite administrator. 
  5. Identifies three (3) school personnel, with a backup for each, who may be designated to provide assistance in operating school emergency shelters:
    1. Principal or designee, 
    2. Head custodian or designee, and
    3. School Food Service Manager or designee (if the school has a conventional kitchen preparation). 

It is highly recommended that the Principal, Head Custodian, School Food Service Manager, or their designee resides close to school for ease of access to the facilities. 

  1. Provides for the security and relocation of essential records and assets. 

Preparedness

  1. Conducts emergency drills, as required. 
  2. Maintains and practices the school/site telephone tree. 
  3. Reviews closing of school procedures. 
  4. Reviews procedures for the operations of emergency shelters. 

Response

  1. Activates the School/Site ERT.
  2. Communicates with Complex Area Superintendent (CAS).
  3. Monitors the radio and television.
  4. Initiates the emergency response plan.
  5. Keeps one phone line open for emergency communication.
  6. Disseminates clear and pertinent information to the staff in a timely manner. 
  7. Serves as the school/site spokesperson with media and others.
  8. Implements actions to preserve vital records and assets.
  9. Prepares to open school facilities for emergency sheltering if directed. 

Recovery 

  1. Assists in life saving community efforts by caring for the injured and providing other humanitarian services of the highest priority. Conducts damage assessment of school/site facility. 
  2. Assists in restoring facilities and operations to facilitate the resumption of educational services to students as quickly as practical.
  3. Assists in the recovery functions.
  4. Documents all emergency shelter resources that are expended, lost, and on-loan.
  5. Maintains a log of significant disaster response and assistance activities. 

Source: DOE Memos and Notices, Emergency Preparedness Procedures (Follow Up to Memo Dated June 5, 2014), 10/16/2014

Leighton Heusinger

Leighton started in the healthcare field in nursing. Shortly after college he shifted to training medical and dental software in the field. After 5+ years of customized training and software development, he moved on to work at Tesla where he continued working in technology. Leighton worked for the Department of Education as an Administrative Services Assistant creating paperless workflows and helping office embrace new technologies. After the COVID-19 Pandemic he moved on to start his own technical assistance firm where he had clients like eXp Realty, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, and Chipped and Faded Transformations. He continues to contract with the State of Hawaii and the Department of Education to further the use of technology.