Letter
to MPS Parents Regarding Emergency
Preparedness
Dear
Parents:
The
administration and staff in the Madison Public Schools
district are most concerned with protecting your children
and promise you that we will do everything reasonably
possible to protect them against any threat that may
arise while they are in our care. I want to let you know
some of the things that we have done and are doing to
honor our commitment.
Over the
past three years, the school district has spent
considerable time and effort planning and practicing
safety and security measures appropriate for dealing with
major critical incidents. Entry into and exit from our
schools are restricted. Parents and others coming into
schools must stop at the main office and receive
temporary identification badges before proceeding.
Additionally, as a safety precaution, only exterior doors
that are monitored can be opened from the
outside.
Every
school has a crisis response plan and key school
personnel have participated in crisis response training.
The school district works closely with police and other
public safety departments of the town and are prepared to
respond to any crisis.
We know
that a student’s psychological welfare is important,
therefore, MPS is prepared to offer comfort and
psychological support to students in crises.
Psychologists and social workers trained and experienced
in dealing with children facing trauma will be deployed
as needed in any crisis. If, at any time, your child
shows signs of excessive stress, or needs additional
emotional support, please do not hesitate to speak with
his or her teacher, counselor, or principal.
For more
information on Madison Public Schools' emergency
preparedness — and related issues such as field trip
status—go to links on the page sidebar. This site includes information about MPS’ responses to various threat levels. During an emergency,
information is also posted on the MPS web site and on
Cable Channel 19. To receive emergency announcements via
e-mail from MPS, go to the MPS home page and sign up for
the Madison
Infoline
listserve.
