Why Safety Matters
The act of sending our children to our schools, one of the bedrocks of our American way of life, should not be something we question or that causes us to fear for their safety. We want to assure our community that the number one priority is student and staff safety. When planning for school safety we seek to create a welcoming, learning atmosphere that is safe and secure without presenting our schools as foreboding, prison-like buildings.
Providing a safe environment for students to learn and staff to work is at the top of the list for educators and community partners across Eaton County. Leaders from the Eaton RESA, local school districts, law enforcement and other agencies are working collaboratively to help steer schools in the right direction when addressing emergencies and incidents.
When a traumatic event or crisis occurs, Eaton RESA has planned, specific interventions. The District will do its best to be prepared to meet the needs of affected individuals during any time of crisis. Every staff person has the potential to perform a task or take a role in the management of such a crisis. This plan will serve to direct and guide roles and actions.
Emergency response activities occur in four (4) major phases: Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. In schools in particular, there are several major goals across all phases:
- Safety of all concerned
- Management of response to the event/incident
- Mitigation of negative physical and psychological "side effects"
- Continuity of appropriate school activities
- Coordination of District and community resources
