HB 147 Supporting Document

HB 147 Supporting Document:

On July 8th, 2024, this agenda item was brought before the board for approval. Some
additional tasks transpired since the board meeting.

Additional Tasks include:

   1) Area Superintendents work with school leaders to ensure that each school in their
      area completes their Safe Schools Plan and Checklist that is required by GEMA and
      Homeland Security. Each school had its committee play a role and completing their
      Safe School Plan.

   2) Chief of StaL and Chief Whaley of Public Safety met with Brittany L Groves who
      serves as the Homeland Security Coordinator for Area 7 who came in person to
      Dekalb County to look over the Emergency Response Procedures and Protocols
      document along with 10 of the schools’ Safe Schools Plan to give feedback on if we
      complied with HB 147. She stated that not only was the district in compliance but
      that we are one of the districts that went over and beyond to ensure that our schools
      had a plan in place.

   3) Met with DCSD’s Chief Legal OLicer to get approval on the plan and was successful.
      Supporting document also attached.

The process of the HB 147 Plan:

   1. Principals appoint school safety committee members and conduct training for the
      committee members.
          a. Committee members include School SROs (Law enforcement & Public
              Safety) and members of Dekalb Fire (Public Safety)
   2. Committee members come together and create the school's safety plan by
      updating school staL and roles.
   3. The committee evaluates and refines school security measures yearly as the plan is
      created and updated over the previous year.
          a. DCSD Safe Schools team supports administrators during this process.
   4. School Principals upload the completed school safety plan to Infinite Campus prior
      to the first day of school.
   5. School principals hold a meeting with all school staL to train and discuss the
      updated safety plan and assignments with staL.
   6. School principals conduct one (1) Active Shooter/Code Red drill per HB147
      requirements prior to October 1st of each year.
          a. During that drill all staL and students are required to take part in the drill and
              therefore train according to the school safety plan procedures.
          b. Only students whose parents communicate their desire to opt out are
              excluded from this drill.
7. DCSD Safe Schools team receives and reviews the school plan for accuracy and
    alignment with Georgia EMA/HS standards.
8. Safe Schools personnel conduct an audit of the school personnel's adherence to
    school safety plan procedures during the first semester of each school year.
        a. An after-action meeting is conducted with the school administration to
            discuss how the safety plan can be improved, or personnel performance may
            be improved and to train the administration on best practices.
9. Safe Schools personnel conduct an additional lockdown drill during the second
    semester where the school is evaluated and graded on lockdown procedures.
        a. An after-action meeting is conducted with the school administration to
            discuss how the safety plan can be improved, or personnel performance may
            be improved and to train the administration on best practices.
10. Each school safety plan designates school personnel who will communicate with
    local public safety oLicials during planning and an emergency.
11. District Communications Division personnel are available to support schools by
    communicating with local media and through social media in the event of a crisis.