Create a crisis communication plan that includes specific roles, guidelines, and messaging

ACSA Council & Committee

All schools are required to have a comprehensive safety plan with specific roles and guidelines reviewed by stakeholders on an annual basis. While it does not call for a specific communications plan, verify the existence of the plan and share the components with the school community.

Resources:

San Bernardino City Unified School District Crisis Toolkit - This link is an example of the SBCUSD Communication Toolkit. Beginning on page 7, samples communication documents are provided to demonstrate how they communicated to: employees, social media, the district statement, and letter to the parents informing them of the incident.
Crisis Communication Plan Toolkit - We recommend this resource provided by the Colorado NonProfit Association, a crisis communication plan toolkit. This toolkit includes a crisis communication policy, communication checklist, examples of phone trees, communication plan, sample press releases, decision tree, and post crisis review.
The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness - This group created a well-designed, 13-page crisis communication plan. This tool can be used as a template to customize for any school district. This document contains media relations tips and reminders for leaders and staff.
Crisis Emergency Risk Communication - The CDC provides a document on crisis emergency risk communication. While this is a lengthy document, refer to the following pages for effective communication tools, tips and checklists.
- Pages 21-25: Best Practices for Communication (NIMS-National Incident Management Systems).
- Pages 31: Application of the plan during the first 24 to 48 hours.
- Pages 45-64: Provides a checklist that is crucial for the first 48 hours of an incident.
Six Key Elements of a Crisis Communication Plan - If your district is creating a detailed crisis communication plan, the information compiled by the Cassling Organization is a great one to use as a model. It includes a concise definition of a crisis, followed by the six elements.
American School Board Journal - This article includes tips for crisis communication and can be used as an article share during staff meetings or with a safety team.
US Department of Health & Human Services - This is a lengthy document for crisis, emergency and risk communication. It has a valuable communication checklist for the first 48 hours of a crisis that can be reviewed and planned for ahead of time with safety teams and a district’s communication department (pages 45-64).

Implement research based social emotional learning programs that foster positive campus climate

Research shows a direct correlation between strong SEL programs and reduced behavioral issues with students.

Conduct regular security assessments of your school facilities

Security assessments of each facility in a district can be overwhelming and expensive.

Create a crisis communication plan that includes specific roles, guidelines, and messaging

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All districts should establish reporting systems to be used by staff, students and families that provide anonymity.

A district level safety committee should meet at least quarterly to create, reflect upon, and update district safety plans.

The district/school safety plan should be collaboratively updated at least annually by the safety committee.

Districts and school sites should develop relationships with local first responders, including law enforcement, fire department, and Emergency Medical Technicians.

Lockdown drills should be scheduled year round with a set approach that staff is familiar with, starting at the beginning of the school year.

Research shows a direct correlation between strong SEL programs and reduced behavioral issues with students.

Security assessments of each facility in a district can be overwhelming and expensive.

Like any emergency, a reunification process must be planned prior to any event.

Preparing for emergencies and response to crisis means working with mental health professionals and staff to identify signs of possible issues and then planning for responses.

Many schools have found it helpful to create a crisis response box that is shared with a local police/sheriff’s department.

To ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff, schools and school districts should create comprehensive, multi-hazard emergency management plans.

Immediately call a lockdown and follow the same process used in your drills. Utilize the intercom or communication system to announce the lockdown school-wide.

As soon as an emergency situation is identified, either directly call or designate someone to call 911.

As soon as it is practicable, establish your incident command center and begin operationalizing your School Emergency Response Plan.

Be sure to communicate with parents and key stakeholders so they receive accurate information from you.

In the event of a large-scale emergency, your local law enforcement will likely step in and help you ascertain the relocation site that will be used.

The goal with reunification is to safely bring families together. The reality of a fatal school violence event is you may have students or staff that are casualties of the event.

It is important to reach out to known mental health providers or partners as soon as possible after a school crisis.

In the aftermath of an incident, communication is critically important.

Staff must be informed of key information in a confidential staff meeting.