Presentation HB 147 Safe School Act - July 8, 2024 - DCSD Board Meeting Archive

Safe Schools Act
(HB 147)
Board Meeting
07-08-2024

Elijah Palmer
Chief of Staff (DCSD)
Background: Safe School
Act HB 147

On April 13, 2023 HB 147 was passed with an effective date of
July 1, 2023.

Every public school shall prepare a school safety plan to help
curb the growing incidences of violence in schools, to respond
effectively to such incidents, and to provide a safe learning
environment for Georgia's children, teachers, and other school
personnel. Such plan shall also address preparedness for
natural disasters, hazardous materials or radiological accidents,
acts of violence, and acts of terrorism.

2
EMERGENCY KIT

All schools should develop at least 2 emergency
evacuation kits to be taken from the school during
any evacuation (including drills to ensure
consistency).

 One kit should be located in the
administrator's office and should become the
portable "command center" for the lead
administrator during a crisis.

 The second kit should be located on the
opposite side of the facility and taken to the
evacuation site or family reunification site if
necessary.

3
LOCK DOWN
PROCEDURES

• Level 1- Exterior Lockdown:
o Lock all exterior doors, lock , and
monitor main access door.
o Monitor movement of students,
particularly between classes.
o Movement is limited inside the
building.
o Students and staff remain in
building.
o Block visibility into classrooms from
exterior windows and doors.

4
LOCKDOWN
PROCEDURES
• Level 2- Interior Lockdown:
o Lock all exterior doors as well as ensure
classroom doors are secured.
o Open exterior window blinds or curtains to
allow exterior visibility into classroom.
o Conduct accountability procedures and
display appropriate emergency status
cards.
o Staff and students do not leave classroom.
o Continue classroom instruction or normal
activities within the classroom.
o Do not contact office unless you
have pertinent information or an
emergency.
o Announce for all visitors/vendors inside the
building to return to the office.

5
LOCK DOWN
PROCEDURES
• Level 3: Full Lockdown:
o If safe to do so, lock exterior doors (primarily
applicable when multiple buildings exist).
o Immediately ensure classroom doors are locked
and consider barricading interior classroom doors.
o All persons move out of sight in locked classroom
(e.g next to interior walls, under desks, or under
tables). Turn off lights and/or block visibility if
visibility is possible from interior windows and
doors.
o Remain silent.
o Open exterior window blinds or curtains to allow
exterior visibility into classroom.

6
Emergency Preparedness
• Identify outside assembly
• Response
• Teachers should bring their class

Evacuation/ point at least 1,000 ft. Away
from the school building.
rosters with them and should
ensure all students are out of
classrooms and restrooms.
Reunification • Establish the evacuation
routes.
• Teachers will lead students to
designated holding
areas/assembly areas.
• Provide special evacuation
needs of the disabled. • Attendance is taken to make sure
all students are present.
• Have copy of evacuation plan
accessible to teacher and • Teachers will wait with students
until Admin gives an "All Clear"
admin during evacuation. signal.
• Orient staff, faculty, and • Decision is made to take students
students to the evacuation to Reunification sites.
routes, specific duties, and
responsibilities • Parents are directed to
Reunification sites for orderly pick
during evacuation. up.

7
FIRE IN BUILDING
• Designated staff has emergency
kits available.
Principal/Admin calls Call Area • Designated staff should survey
911
Pull/Ring fire alarm
Superintendent students at assembly check point.
• All school personnel and students
Staff and students are must remain in assembly area until
Use intercom to start
orderly evacuation
Close all windows to
confine fire
moved to
predetermined "All Clear" signal is sent.
assembly point at least
1,000 ft. from school • Alert Crisis Management Team.
• Admin Team and Area
Ensure all personnel and
students are out of the
Superintendent should prepare
building written statement to be sent home
with students.

8
Active Shooter Protocol
• Shelter in Place • According to Full Lockdown procedures set
o All staff members should take measures to forward by GEMA: Exterior blinds or window
protect the lives of students and their own. coverings are to be open to allow visibility in
o Teachers should, if possible, check the the classroom.
hallway area near their classrooms and • All students should move out of sight to a
allow any student or staff without shelter blind corner or a portion of the room so that
to enter. they can't be seen through doorway or any
o Teachers should secure the door by closing window.
the door and ensuring that they're
properly locked. • Teachers should make every effort to keep
o All lights inside classrooms should be
everyone in room silent. Only
turned off. communicating emergency information only.
o If possible, the interior window should be
completely covered.

9
Active Shooter • Evacuation
o Occupants of the room
• Defense
o If locking mechanisms
Protocol.... should only leave when
directed to do so by Law
are not working
properly, all efforts
Enforcement. should be made to
o Once directed to leave barricade the door.
by Law Enforcement, o If room is penetrated
teachers will escort and
by active shooter,
monitor their class to
designated location occupants
by Law Enforcement. are authorized to
defend themselves
o Teacher will remain with against threat.
their class or group of
students at all times. o Occupants may: throw
o Designated staff should items such as books,
take Emergency Kit to pens, pencils, chairs,
designated assembly and other items as
area. defense tools.

10
Report of a Weapon on Campus

While SRO and
Administrator and SRO Admin escort the suspected
Call 911 Immediately or
should proceed to the area student a designated staff
DCSD Public Safety at (678) Notify Area Superintendent
where the weapon is member should carry all
676-1810
reported to be. student's belongings at
a safe distance.

Admin/School Staff should
Student is taken to a Any weapon found should not engage or
designated place where Belongings are searched be immediately secured to confront anyone who is in
they will empty pockets and thoroughly. be turned over to DCSD possession of a weapon or
take off their shoes. police. attempt to unload a
firearm.

11
Gunshots are heard in
or near the school
Immediately lockdown the school (Identify whether
Level 1 (Exterior) or Level 2 (Interior) Lockdown.

Contact staff outdoors with students to take refuge
at predetermined site.

Call 911

View surveillance monitors to determine location and
nature of the incident.

Contact Area Superintendent

12
DRILLS THAT ARE
MANDATED
• Fire Drills- 2 performed within the first 30 days of school opening, with the first one occurring
within the first 10 days of start of school. After that, the fire drills are conducted and
reported online monthly.
• During months of November and February, the Georgia State Fire Marshal Office requires a
weather drill is conducted and reported online, instead of a fire drill.
• Lockdown Drill
o 1st semester- should be performed within first 10 days of school and conducted by
Admin/Staff.
o 2nd semester- Lockdown drill will be conducted and scored. Schools will be
evaluated on the following criteria:
 Was there quick and orderly response to school's signal for lockdown?
 Were doors locked?
 Was anyone in an unsecured area?

13
Centegix
• Centegix Crisis Alert Badge: Allows
staff and security professionals to
request assistance and implement

Crisis emergency protocols from anywhere
on campus when necessary.
o Every staff member has the
Alert badge to use in case of a crisis or
emergency.

Badge
o Schools have additional badges
for substitute teachers that will
serve as the sub for the day.

14
• This system allows students, staff, and visitors to

EVOLV
enter the school building through designated
entrances equipped with advanced sensor
technology scanners that will identify metal,

Weapons
devices, and weapons to prevent students and
staff from potential harm in DCSD.
o All High Schools and Middle Schools

Detection
currently have these detectors
o Board is being asked to approve for the 5
stadiums and 2 additional schools: DECA and
Wadsworth Magnet

System o Additional HS: Lakeside, Columbia,
Dunwoody, Chamblee
o 11 Total EVOLV Machines

15
Threats/Terroristic Threats Protocol

Threats to harm person and/or property at school or the DCSD
pose a significant concern and must be taken seriously and
immediately addressed. These procedures must be utilized for
threats sent via social media, text, email, and/or other means.
Threat Response
• Immediately contact SRO or Public Safety (678) 676-1810.
• DCSD will conduct a Behavioral Threat Assessment and advise.
• If the threat was via social media, email, or text immediately screenshot, print, and save message to be shared with SRO.
• SRO will determine if Lockdown or evacuation is necessary.
• Alert Crisis Management Team at (678) 596-2739 if necessary.

16
QUESTIONS

Agenda Item