Policy 2.381

Emergency Evacuation Drills

1. Purpose. The purpose of this policy is to provide for the emergency evacuation drills and procedures, for actual emergencies, including, but not limited to fires, natural disasters, and bomb threats for all Palm Beach County public schools, including the scheduling, in accordance with Sections 1001.43(7) and 1006.07(4), Fla. Stat. and other laws.

2. Definitions.

   1. "Emergency" means any occurrence, or threat thereof, whether natural, technological, or manmade, which results or may result in substantial injury or harm to the population of the school community, or substantial damage to or loss of School Board property.

3. Policy Statement . The School Board of Palm Beach County (School Board) desires to ensure that the health, welfare and safety of all students and employees are safeguarded at all times while on school board property; the time necessary for instructional purposes is not unduly diverted; minimum disruption to the educational program occurs; and students are helped to learn self-reliance and trained to respond sensibly to emergency situations.

   1. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure schools have implemented procedures for the handling of school emergencies, as provided for herein, which include a plan for the prompt and safe evacuation of the schools and safe dispersal of students from School Board property which shall be practiced in such emergency drills conducted in accordance with law and as provided for herein.

   2. The superintendent or designee shall annually review and communicate to schools/departments of the School District procedures for fire exit or emergency evacuation drills and other hazard precautionary measures as applicable, in accordance with Florida law.

   3. The principal of each school shall be responsible for managing and enforcing emergency evacuation drills as provided in this policy.

   4. Fire and Emergency Drills.

      1. Fire and emergency drills shall be in compliance, as applicable, with the requirements of National Fire Protection Association, Inc. (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code Sections 4.7 (Fire Drills), 14.7.2 (Emergency Egress and Relocation Drills for New Educational Occupancies), and 15.7.2 (Emergency Egress and Relocation Drills for Existing Educational Occupancies).

      2. A total of ten (10) fire drills (shall be conducted each school year for each school center. Two (2) of these fire drills must be held during the first thirty (30) days of the school term.

      3. Two (2) tornado drills are required annually for each school center. One drill should be scheduled during the month of September and the second drill should coincide with the annual tornado drill conducted by Emergency Management. School Police will issue a Bulletin with the date for the second tornado drill.

      4. All school centers and support facilities are required to conduct Code Red (lock-down) and Code White/Blue (evacuation) drills once each semester. Semester One drills must be held prior to October 31^st of each year and Semester Two drills must be held in the month of January of each year.

   5. Reporting. Emergency and crisis drill reports shall be made in the manner and format required by the School District to record information identifying the drill.