District-Wide Safe Schools and Crisis Plan - Blytheville Public Schools

Effective school safety plans must also be school-centered, integrating the distinct
needs of each individual school with the support available from our system and
surrounding community. For schools to meet their individual needs, each Blytheville
Public School has developed a Crisis Response Plan. The Plan contains only the
items of the system-wide plan that would be needed in an emergency. The
contents of the Crisis Response Plan should be updated in the same manner as the
more comprehensive and system-wide Blytheville Public Schools Plan.
C.2. EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST
Note: a school-specific emergency contact list must be updated at least once
per semester, and posted in the main office.
C.3. MEDIA
Media representatives frequently respond to situations that involve schools. Mistakes
made in dealing with the media can result in adverse publicity for the school,
interference with emergency response, and increased civil liability.
Principal Response
Emphasize to staff that any release of information to the media will
be coordinated through the Principal. Before releasing information to
the media, contact the Superintendent’s Office.
Work closely with public safety officials on the release of information
to the media. Refer all public safety questions to the appropriate public
safety official. In particular, do not discuss specifics of any ongoing criminal
investigations.
Information should only be released at designated media staging
areas. This tends to reduce attempts by media personnel to resort to
unethical tactics to gain information or access to school facilities.
Do not provide any information “off the record.”
Be careful not to show any favoritism to any particular press
representative. Be particularly careful not to ignore local media
representatives while trying to work with national media.
Consider all electronic equipment active at all times. Beware of “hot
mikes.” Television reporters will sometimes leave cameras turned on and
record people when they think that they are only engaged in casual
conversation with reporters.
Before releasing any information, consider whether you can legally do so. Be
particularly careful about releasing identifying information that conflicts
with FERPA or HIPAA regulations.
Do not authorize interviews with juveniles without specific parental
permission. If interviews are granted, monitor them.
Jot down notes before doing an interview.
If a news release is necessary, contact the Superintendent’s Office for
assistance and official release.
Staff Response
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