Safety
The Chula Vista Elementary School District has emergency action plan procedures outlined for events such as earthquakes, fire, active threats, and other incidents. Staff members are pre-assigned to school Emergency Response Teams and have specific life-saving duties to perform during emergencies.
Disaster Preparedness
Emergency Action Plan procedures during earthquakes and other emergencies are practiced multiple times annually. In addition, all support staff are ready to assist until the incident is resolved.
School staff members will remain on duty until all children have been safely picked up by a parent, guardian, family member, or designated person listed on the child's School Emergency Card. Students will not be released to individuals not listed on the Student Emergency Card. Parents must keep emergency/disaster card information current.
School Safety Is Everyone's Responsibility
In light of recent national incidents, we continue to refine and enhance our strategies to ensure the safety well-being of all students and staff members. Together with local law enforcement agencies and neighboring school district partners, we continue to assess and improve our safety procedures. As a part of the the district's commitment to continuously improving safety measures, CVESD has implemented:
- AEGIX – A comprehensive incident response platform that allows schools to communicate and alert the authorities during an incident.
- Monthly evacuation preparedness drills, lockdown, secure campus, shelter-in-place, and bus evacuation drills.
- School Safety Committees/School Site Councils review and update each site's Comprehensive School Safety Plan annually. An increasing part of every school's emergency readiness plan includes training, drills, and exercises. As preparation is the key to best possible outcomes during emergency situations, the district welcomes family and community input on how to improve school safety. To provide input please fill out the WeTip form on your child's school website.
Ways Parents and Guardians Can Help During A Critical Event
- Keep Emergency Information Card up to date at each child's school front office.
- Proper photo identification is required during large-scale emergencies or medical events. School sites cannot release students to individuals who are not on the emergency card or do not present proper ID; there will be no exceptions to this policy.
- The Emergency Reunification process between school staff, parents/guardians, and students takes time to ensure accuracy and safety. School sites will reunify each child with an authorized adult listed on the child's Emergency Information Card, as long as they have proper identification.
- Parents and Guardians should make sure that they are registered to receive text messages through the district's emergency notification system on their cell phone. To opt in, please text yes to 67587.
- In any emergency, please remember that it is essential to keep phone lines open so first responders, such as fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel, can use the phone lines to get life-saving resources to the scene(s) promptly. Therefore, texting is the best form of communication between family and friends during an emergency.
- Family members or guardians must refrain from going to the schools during an emergency unless directed. Doing so may hinder emergency personnel and delay the administering of life-saving procedures to those in need, and could potentially cause the individuals to put their own safety at risk. During lockdown procedures, family members or guardians cannot pick up their child. Staff will not answer the door, field phone calls, or permit non-emergency personnel on campus.
- Family members and guardians should be mindful of social media presence. Please do not post specific information about a child's school on social media websites.
- In an emergency, please follow the instructions of law enforcement and school administrators. CVESD faculty and staff also train in preparation for various emergencies and will be able to guide all students through the most appropriate actions and facilitate a response to ensure all students are safe.
- Preparedness starts at home. Children need to know what to do and be assured that they are prepared as a family. Involve them in process by allowing them to participate in putting together a family emergency kit. Talk to your children about how to evacuate their room if there is a fire and where to drop, cover and hold on if there is an earthquake.
WeTip
WeTip is an anonymous crime reporting program that may be used to report all types of crimes. The district is a member of WeTip and offers this service to staff and community members. The WeTip hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. All calls to WeTip are 100% anonymous. Hotline: 1-800-78-CRIME or log onto www.wetip.com.
Web Links and Resources