Emergency Communications

Manchester School District Emergency Preparedness and Communications

Manchester Public Schools prioritizes student safety. It is our goal to prevent emergencies from happening, therefore all threats, whether verbal or written (including electronic) are to be taken seriously and investigated.

Because all emergencies, such as natural disasters can't be prevented, we also want to be prepared to respond effectively. All schools in our district, with assistance from district and city emergency responders, develop a comprehensive safety plan for both natural disasters and human caused incidents. Students and staff practice drills so if the unthinkable happens, they know how to respond.

How and when will I be notified?

The means and immediacy of communication will depend on the scope of the event and on the potential or actual impact to the safety of the students. While it’s difficult to describe all possible scenarios, the following can be used a guide to gauge the District’s level of notification and systems used to communicate with families:

What to Expect in an Emergency

If a major critical incident happens at a school, the district will communicate with families about what is happening and next steps as soon as possible.

There are times when the situation is dynamic and multiple agencies are involved. Because communications are coordinated with these other agencies, such as Manchester Police Department, this may cause a delay in notification. If school staff are responding to an urgent situation, frequently the school phones will not be answered because their priority is student safety.

On occasion, students may be placed in a “shelter in place” or a "secure campus" or “lockdown” for an extended period of time and parents will need to be prepared to wait to reunite with their student until the situation is determined to be safe and students can be released. In some events, the district will establish a family reunification site and communicate with families about the location.

Should I report to the scene of the incident/emergency?

In the case of a high-impact emergency situation in a school or at a school-sponsored activity, access to the scene will be limited and controlled by fire or police officials.

Parents are encouraged to remain close to their sources of communication, whether phone or email, to ensure they are receiving accurate and timely updates on the emergency from school division staff.

Once the emergency is declared "over," will parents be able to report to their child’s school?

When Manchester School District communicates to parents that the school emergency has ended, direction will be provided on how parents will reunite with their child. Parents will be directed to a specific location that could be located off campus. It is important that parents follow these directions for the safety of all students, staff and parents.

Remember, a student can only be released to an adult that is documented as an emergency contact. If you are a non-custodial parent, you must be listed in the student information system with a relationship to the student that has mailing rights and show proper identification.

If the school building is evacuated, how will I be able to locate my child?

If an evacuation occurs during the school day, there is a possibility that the students will return to school and normal dismissal and bus service will resume. Your child may text or email you about the evacuation before the District is able to notify you. Please rely on the District’s information and monitor your phone or email closely to ensure you are receiving accurate and timely updates on the emergency from District staff. Student texts and social media can cause confusion and further disrupt safety protocols.

Remember, a student can only be released to an adult who is documented as an emergency contact. If you are a non-custodial parent, you must be listed with your child's emergency contact information as a guardian and show proper identification.

What do I do if I see or hear of a threat?

We encourage students to report any threat or safety concerns to a trusted adult, including families, school staff and 911.

All district staff and community members are encouraged to report anything and everything they see or hear or are made aware of if it may affect the safety of any student, school or school program. If you see or hear something, say something.