Disaster and Crisis Management Plan

Faculty and Staff Radio Communications

All faculty and many staffare issued radios.  Radios are used for daily operations as well as emergency situations.  The procedures outlined below are specifically for radio use in emergency situations.

·        Radios are assigned to all faculty and other selected staff.  Faculty on yard duty and staff are issued radios for daily operations as well as emergency situations.  The radios issued to faculty have a single frequency (Blue, # 1) which is only to be used for emergencies. 

·        Faculty and staff on yard duty should have a radio equipped with a frequency assigned for daily operations (see the chart below).  If the radio you have is not equipped with the frequency used for emergencies (Blue, # 1), the assigned channel should be used to report such events.

·        Radio frequencies are identified by a color and/or a number.  Some radios use colors while others use numbers.  Radio frequencies are assigned as follows:

·        The Emergency Channel (Blue, # 1) will be monitored at all times during the school day by a principal’s designee in each school office, the Plant Manager’s office, and Central Office reception.  Each office will have a separate radio assigned for this monitoring. 

·        The Emergency Channel (Blue, # 1) is ONLY to be used for crisis situations as outlined within this document (unless administration directs you otherwise).  It will not be used for ANY non-crisis communications.  All other messages should be transmitted on other frequencies or by other means.  This radio discipline is imperative for keeping the frequency clear for emergency broadcasts.

·        Radio equipment should be carried on your person at all times when you are on campus.  When you are in the classroom, it may be placed on your desk in the recharging unit.

·        Those assigned a radio with only the Emergency frequency (Blue, # 1) should periodically perform a radio check.  This is done by broadcasting the words “Radio check.”  One of the monitoring stations will acknowledge your broadcast, indicating the reception and quality of your broadcast.  If you do not receive a response, immediately notify Maintenance in order to have your radio repaired.

·        Radio equipment used in the classrooms should remain turned OFF until (1) an emergency situation has been declared (alarms are activated) or (2) you need to report a crisis situation to administration at a monitoring station.  When emergency alarms are sounded, everyone should turn on their radios to their assigned channels.  If these radios remain on, your classroom would be periodically interrupted with radio checks.

·        When an emergency has been declared or during a drill, all multi-channel radios will be tuned to the Blue frequency (#1) unless directed otherwise by administration.

·        When communicating information about a crisis situation, employees should be aware that this information may be overheard by most students.  In an attempt to lessen the opportunity for panic, some information may need to be communicated in as quiet a manner as possible. To broadcast sensitive information, the employee making the broadcast should start the message by saying “Confidential Message.”  Upon receiving this message, everyone should turn the volume down on their radios to receive the remaining message.

·        Radio equipment is not available for personal use and should be left in your classroom or other assigned area when you leave the campus.

·        Substitute teachers should be informed of radio use and will use the radio assigned to the classroom in which they are substituting.

·        Batteries should be charged nightly.