Building Admin

The building Administrator will serve as the building’s manager and leader in the event of a crisis/tragedy. They are responsible for implementing all responses and coordinating with support professionals.

First:  

If building Admin is the first to learn of a crisis or tragedy:

1. Write down all the details as they have been given to you

2. Contact the Director of School Safety and/or the Prevention Services Admin as soon as possible: 

Roles and Responsibilities reminder: Click here

Next:

Work with the Prevention Services Administrator and the Psychological Services Administartor to determine the Level of Response needed.

Consider completing a Crisis Facts Worksheet to help with further communications.

Then:

After the appropriate Level of Response has been determined, building Administrator should prepare, complete, or delegate, the following activities:

Steps to take:

1. Inform staff:  Directly call staff who will be highly impacted, and activate the building phone tree for the remainder of the staff.  Informing Staff  (Director of Communication can help with communication content).

2. School day preparation:

• Schedule substitute teachers, or "roving subs," if needed  (HR can assist)

• Notify transportation so that the bus does not stop to pick the student up, if appropriate 

• Make sure auto-dialer does not contact the family

3. Contact the family of the crisis victim(s) to:

• Express condolences

• Offer support and resources

• Verify family’s wishes for what information to share with staff, students, and families.

  • In the event of a suicide death, encourage the family to allow us to share cause of death, as it may help prevent other students from taking that step.

4.  Work with district-level admin to:

• Draft a statement for teachers to read to students.  See Informing Students 

• Draft a statement for office staff to use when responding to inquiries. See Appendix

  • Ensure no student workers are answering phones for the day

  • Ensure language interpreters are available as needed

  • Identify back-up staff to answer phones if volume of calls increases

• Draft a message to send to all families in the school.  See Informing Families

5. Schedule and lead the Morning Stand-Up Meeting:  Morning Stand-up meeting 

6. Throughout the day:

• Monitor media and social media

• Check-in with primary Crisis Responders

• Check-in with the Care Room

• Respond to requests and concerns from staff and teachers  

• Maintain contact with District Office

7. Schedule and lead the Afternoon Stand-Up Meeting: After school meeting

8. At the end of the day, check-in with the Prevention Services Admin and Psych Services Admin to determine needs for the next day(s)

Use caution when considering memorial activities.  Follow district policies and review this helpful information:  Considerations for Memorials