Section II: Risk Reduction/Prevention and Intervention Strategies

A. Prevention/Intervention Strategies

Program Initiatives

  • Character Education Program
  • Agency consultation provided in schools

Training, Drills, and Exercises

Three levels of annual multi-hazard school training will be considered in this plan:

  1. responder training for members of the Incident Response and Post-Incident Response teams conducted by response agencies and/or the BOCES HSRM staff;
  2. general staff awareness training conducted during a Superintendent’s Conference Day by response agencies; and
  3. general student awareness training of emergency response procedures conducted by building staff (i.e. lockdown drills).

Each year the District-Wide School Safety Team and/or Building-Level Teams will consider appropriate training for each of the groups listed above.

Drills and related procedures specific to this safety plan:

  • Lockout and Lockdown drills are conducted throughout the school year, also, an evacuation drill is done at least once a year
  • A table-top exercise with response staff to discuss emergency procedures will be conducted this year
  • After each drill, building and district level leaders meet to discuss the drill and make changes if necessary
  • Tests of the emergency notification system are conducted each year on a Superintendent’s Conference Day to ensure that staff in all areas of the building can hear the notifications.

Implementation of School Security

Chief Emergency Operator

The Superintendent of Schools of the Superintendent’s designee will serve as the District Chief Emergency Operator.

Safety Response

School staff is trained to be vigilant pertaining to threats against students and staff (i.e. bullying). The district continues to promote a culture of respect for the students and staff through the Dignity Act recently enacted in New York State.

Security Devices

  • Surveillance cameras are placed on buses and at various locations on campus. The district is adding additional surveillance devices for additional coverage.
  • Photo ID cards are issued to staff and badges are issued to visitors.
  • A sign-in and sign-out log is used to track entrants to the building who are not students or staff.
  • A swipe-card system is used for door access and all staff are issued non-descript swipe cards that provide access limited to the employee’s specific building and shift.
  • All district buildings have secure vestibules with double sets of locked doors. Bulletproof transaction windows are accessible in each locked vestibule so that transactions can be completed without visitors coming into the locked building.
  • Buzzer systems with cameras at each main entrance are installed at all schools in district

Vital Educational Agency Information

Additional Education locations within the district boundaries are listed below:

  • Adirondack Daycare & Learning, 2448 St Hwy 29, Johnstown, NY
  • Conner’s Friends Daycare, 12 Breckenridge Drive, Johnstown, NY
  • Country Kids Daycare, 20 Bloomingdale Avenue, Johnstown, NY
  • Fulmont Community Action Agency, Inc., 235 Pleasant Avenue, Johnstown, NY
  • Fulton County YMCA Playmates, 213 Harrison Street, Johnstown, NY
  • Fulton County YMCA Pre-Kindergarten, 213 Harrison Street, Johnstown, NY and
    400 S. Perry Street, Johnstown, NY
  • HFM BOCES PTECH, 502 Glebe Street, Johnstown, NY
  • Ladybug Daycare, 10 Hoffman Street, Johnstown, NY
  • Misty Houser Family Day Care, 111 Whitmore Avenue, Johnstown, NY
  • Sharon Hillier Family Day Care, 19 Nicholas Street, Johnstown, NY

B. Early Detection of Potentially Violent Behavior

Strategies for improving communication among students and between students and staff along with reporting of potentially violent incidents, such as the establishment of:

  • Staff to attend a violence prevention and intervention course, that addresses early signs of potentially violent students
  • Newsletters and pamphlets to parents/guardians with articles addressing bullying, conflict resolution and other issues, included are important contact numbers to address concerns.

C. Hazard Identification

Not all inclusive of hazards, the most common or potentially likely to occur:

  • Railroad (external)
  • NYS Thruway, Rt. 29, Rt. 67, Rt. 30A (external)
  • School Heating System (Gas Pipeline) (internal)
  • School Bus (external)
  • Athletic Fields, Playgrounds and Play Area (external/internal)
  • Field Trips (external)
  • Pool (internal)

Hazard Assessment (external hazards are county-wide)

Predictability: 1 (unpredictable) through 5 (very predictable)

Frequency: 1 (more than one/year); 2 (annually); 3 (every 2-5 years); 4 (every 5-10 years); 5 (rarely)

Warning time: 1 (none); 2 (minutes); 3 (hours); 4 (days); 5 (exact likely dates known)

Seriousness: 1 (disaster – entire community with casualties); 2 (disaster (entire school with casualties); 3 (emergency – affects one or more individuals with casualties); 4 (emergency (entire community, no casualties); 5 (emergency – entire school, no casualties)

Possible responses: 1) drop, cover and hold; 2) drop flat/gunfire; 3) lockdown; 4) evacuation; 5) reverse evacuation; 6) early dismissal; 7) external emergency response.

Intruder

  • Predictability: 1
  • Approximate frequency: 5
  • Warning time: 1
  • Seriousness: 3, 5
  • Possible responses: 3

Bomb Threat

  • Predictability: 1
  • Approximate frequency: 5
  • Warning time: 1
  • Seriousness: 5
  • Possible responses: 3, 4

Hazmat

  • Predictability: 1
  • Approximate frequency: 5
  • Warning time: 1
  • Seriousness: 4
  • Possible responses: 4, 7

High Winds

  • Predictability: 3
  • Approximate frequency: 2
  • Warning time: 2
  • Seriousness: 5
  • Possible responses: 1, 3

Bus Accident

  • Predictability: 1
  • Approximate frequency: 5
  • Warning time: 1
  • Seriousness: 3
  • Possible responses: 7

Winter Storm

  • Predictability: 5
  • Approximate frequency: 1
  • Warning time: 4
  • Seriousness: 5
  • Possible responses: 6