October 2014,
Dear Benchmark Parents,
The safety of the students, staff members, and visitors at Benchmark School is of utmost
importance. To ensure a safe and secure campus, members of our Crisis Response Team have
been meeting, attending school safety workshops, taking online courses through safeSCHOOLS
training, and applying what we have learned by discussing our responses to simulated
emergency scenarios. Last year, we revised our Emergency Management Plan to follow the
guidelines outlined by the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The revised plan is an
All-Hazards Emergency Management Plan which covers procedures for Prevention/Mitigation,
Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. Our All-Hazards Plan is on file with the Upper
Providence Police and Fire Departments.
In addition, emergency drills are conducted throughout the year. They are designed to cover
several different possible scenarios, including evacuation, sheltering-in-place, reverse
evacuation, and lockdown.
In the event of an emergency, Benchmark School will utilize the same sources of communication
as we have in the past (Rediker automated calling system, email, phone) as long as they are
available. We ask that parents/guardians be mindful of the information and follow the
instructions that are provided at the time of the emergency. Attached to this letter are the
Family Reunification procedures as outlined in our All-Hazards Emergency Management
Plan. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these procedures.
As in the past, we continue to maintain a locked building with visitors directed to come in
through the main entrance, sign in, and wear a nametag while in the building. We want to
thank you for being so conscientious in your cooperation with our efforts.
Please feel free to contact the main office (610-565-3741)if you have concerns or questions
regarding any of the above.
Sincerely,
Crisis Response Team
Robb Gaskins
Sally Laird
Colleen O’Hara
Adam Lemisch
Eleanor Gensemer
Sara Hill
Wayne Reichart
Joyce Ostertag
Tom Hurster
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Family Reunification Procedures
Student release is a critical part of emergency planning. In certain situations, it may be
necessary to release students to parents after an incident has occurred. When Family
Reunification is necessary, the following steps will be followed:
1.
Parents will report to the Family Check-in Center and give the name of their
child.
2.
Picture identification may be required by the person in charge at the Checkin Center to insure the person requesting the child is a match to the name on the
Incident Release Card.
3.
The Accountability Team at the Family Check-in Center will document
information on the student release form (name of student, time, parent ID has
been verified), and give the release form to a runner.
4.
The Accountability Team at the Family Check-in Center will provide parents
with information about signs of stress and names of counselors and agencies who
can provide additional support.
5.
A runner will go to the Student and Staff Assembly Area and get the child
requested by the parent or guardian. The runner will escort the child to the
Reunification Center.
6.
Parents will move to the Reunification Center to await their child. Once the
child is reunited with a parent, the parent will be asked to sign a form indicating
they picked up the child. The date and time will also be indicated on the pick-up
form.
7.
If the child is in the First Aid Area, the parent will be escorted to the area for
reunification with their child.