OAR 581-022-2225: Emergency Plans and Safety Programs

(1) Definitions. As used in this rule: (a) “Evacuate” means a procedure used when students and employees need to move from one location to another. (b) “Hold” means a procedure used to keep students and employees in classrooms while a disruption or minor emergency is resolved. (c) “Lockdown” means a procedure used when a human-caused threat is inside the building. (d) “Secure” means a procedure used when a dangerous situation is outside and in close proximity to the building. (e) “Shelter in place” is a procedure used to respond to and take protective actions based on an environmental hazard that may include an earthquake, tsunami or other natural or environmental danger. (f) “Governing Body” means: (A) A school district board as defined by ORS Chapter 332; (B) A governing body of a charter school as stated in ORS Chapter 338; or (C) A governing body of an Education Service District, or ESD, as stated in ORS Chapter 334, for buildings managed by the ESD with an average daily attendance of 50 or more students. (g) “School Year” means the contiguous months of a year when students are present in school. (2) The Governing Body shall maintain a comprehensive safety plan for all employees and students. A comprehensive safety plan shall include procedures identified in section (1) as well as plans for communicable disease management and responding to medical emergencies as required in OAR 581-022-2220. (3) In buildings operated by the District, ESD or Public Charter School that are occupied by students, the District, ESD or Public Charter School must ensure that all students are instructed and have drills on emergency procedures in compliance with ORS 339.408. The emergency procedures shall include: (a) Drills and instructions on fires conducted at least once a month; (b) Drills and instructions on earthquakes conducted at least twice per School Year; (c) For buildings occupied by students that are in a tsunami hazard zone, drills and instructions on earthquakes, including tsunami drills, conducted at least three times per School Year; and (d) Drills and instructions conducted at least once per School Year on safety threat procedures related to: (A) Lockdown; (B) Secure; (C) Hold; (D) Shelter in Place; (E) Evacuation; and, (F) Other appropriate actions to take when there is a threat to safety. (4) Governing Body shall review their comprehensive safety plan and security policies for compliance with this rule every two years. (5)(a) During review of the comprehensive safety plan and security policies, Governing Body shall also consider the installation of emergency alert systems that: (A) Include wireless alert capabilities; (B) Are capable of communicating in real time with local emergency response agencies; and (C) Connect with local 911 emergency dispatch systems. (b) A Governing Body that already has an emergency alert system installed in their school facilities are exempt from the requirement to consider the installation of an emergency alert system. (c) A Governing Body that does not have an emergency alert system installed in their school facilities will need to note their discussion for consideration of an emergency alert system in their meeting minutes during their review of their comprehensive safety plan and security policies.