4040 - ESU Safety and Security

In order to fulfill its obligation to provide a safe and secure learning environment, the Board has adopted this ESU Safety and Security Policy. Although the ESU will take reasonable steps to protect students and staff, no entity can provide complete safety and security at all times. This policy does not make the ESU a guarantor of the safety of students, staff, or patrons.

General Safety and Security
1. NDE Rubric - The ESU will meet at least the minimum requirement for each school safety and security standard indicator adopted by the Nebraska Department of Education.
2. School Hours
  1. During a crisis situation, the administration will maintain established ESU and program hours and proceed with all co-curricular activities as scheduled whenever possible.
  2. If, during a crisis situation, the parent(s) or guardian of a student decide that the student needs to be absent, this absence will be excused.
3. Access to ESU and Program Facilities
  1. The ESU’s facilities may not be used for funeral or memorial services during business or program hours.
  2. This policy does not discourage the presentation of traditional American Legion memorial services which promote patriotism.
4. Memorials
  1. Memorials often create a visual reminder of a particular crisis that may reintroduce feelings of grief for students. Therefore, memorials may not be displayed anywhere on ESU or program premises.
  2. This policy is not intended to discourage the acceptance of memorial funds or specific items.
Administrator’s Duties Related to Safety and Security
1. Appointment of Crisis Team - The administrator shall appoint members to serve on the ESU’s crisis team. The administrator may, but is not required, to include representatives from the following groups on the crisis team:
  1. Administrators
  2. Teachers
  3. Health/mental health
  4. Facilities staff
  5. Transportation staff
  6. Food service staff member
  7. Information technology staff
  8. Students
  9. Parents
  10. Staff member with expertise on the needs of students with disabilities
  11. Organizations that serve the disabled
  12. Organizations that serve the needs of minority populations (ELL, race, etc.)
  13. Representatives from local early responders (law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel, railroad, factories, etc.)
2. Compliance with Fire and Safety Codes - The Administrator will ensure that the ESU meets all current fire and life safety codes or is in the process of coming into compliance.
3. Annual Safety Audits - The Administrator will arrange for the performance of an annual safety audits using an external consultants utilizing the standardized audit protocol adopted by the Nebraska Department of Education.
4. Mutual Aid Agreements - The Administrator will enter into mutual aid agreements to address the academic, physical, operational, psychological, and emotional recovery areas when possible with appropriate local entities.
Building/Program Administrators’ Duties Related to Safety and Security
1. Positive and Safe Learning Environment
  1. Each building/program administrator shall implement a school-wide behavior process to create a positive and safe learning environment.
  2. Each building/program administrator shall conduct training on and require enforcement of the ESU’s anti-bullying and dating violence policies.
  3. Each building/program administrator shall ensure that staff complete any required suicide prevention training as required by board policy.
  4. Each building/program administrator shall require staff to engage in active supervision of students at all times.
2. Visitor Protocol.
  1. Each building/program administrator shall adopt a protocol for visitors to his/her building or program to sign in upon arrival and departure and to be identified as a visitor while they are in the building during the business or program day. The protocol must also address visitors in specialized areas of the school such as playgrounds, gyms, cafeterias and the like.
  2. This protocol may be written or unwritten but must be clearly communicated to and enforced by all staff.
  3. The building/program administrator will report individuals who repeatedly violate the visitor protocol to the administrator for possible exclusion from ESU facilities pursuant to board policy.
3. Emergency Drills
  1. Each building/program administrator must ensure that the following drills are conducted in his/her building or program:
    1. Fire drills (evacuation): One fire drill conducted monthly with one additional drill being conducted during the first 30 days of school/the program.
    2. Tornado drills (shelter): One drill during the first two weeks of school/program and the second drill during the month of March.
    3. Bus evacuation drills: Two drills during the school/program year involving all students and appropriate staff. Recommended that one drill occur during the first month of school/program.
  2. Each building/program administrator must also conduct any non-required drills recommended by the crisis team.
  3. Each building/program administrator shall conduct a performance review of each of the drills conducted pursuant to this policy. This review does not have to be in writing.

Adopted on: June 8, 2009
Revised on: April 8, 2019
Reviewed on: November 14, 2011
Reveiwed on: Feb. 13, 2023

4040: ESU Safety and Security