5000b Series

5070 - Crisis Response Policy

  1. The following objectives apply to dealing with a crisis situation:
    1. Ensuring the safety and emotional security of students.
    2. Formulating a plan of action immediately that provides uniformity in the treatment of each crisis.
    3. Identifying those students and staff who will likely be most strongly affected by grief.
    4. Preserving, to the extent possible, the daily routine of the program and pre-scheduled activities so as not to draw others into deeper levels of grief than they would normally experience.
    5. Monitoring students' progress through the stages of the grief process.
    6. Making the service unit's resources available to parents and guardians who become concerned about their child's reaction to a crisis.
  2. Policy
    1. School Hours
      1. During a crisis situation, the administration will maintain established program hours and proceed with all activities as scheduled whenever possible.
      2. If, during a crisis situation, the parent(s) or guardian of a student decide that the student needs to be absent, this absence will be excused.
    2. Access to Service Unit Facilities
      1. The facilities owned or operated by ESU 4 may not be used for funeral or memorial services during instructional hours.
      2. This policy does not discourage the presentation of traditional American Legion memorial services which promote patriotism.
    3. Memorials
      1. Memorials often create a visual reminder of a particular crisis that may reintroduce feelings of grief for students. Therefore, memorials may not be displayed anywhere on premises owned or operated by ESU 4 without board approval.

This policy is not intended to discourage the acceptance of memorial funds or specific items.

Adopted on: June 8, 2009
Revised on: _________________________
Reviewed on: October 8, 2012