. A school safety plan consists of three components, Prevention, Response and Recovery. Each component is vital to the effectiveness of the overall plan.

Prevention: Prevention programs are the first component in a school safety plan. The purpose of these programs is to create a safe school environment that supports academic achievement. These programs address a variety of because our primary goal is to prevent emergencies.

Response: Some emergencies or disasters cannot be prevented. In those cases the second component, emergency response and emergency operations plans are necessary to insure an effective response. By having an emergency response plan in place, schools will minimize the impact of an emergency or disaster. It is important for all involved response entities to coordinate and plan their activities in advance. This will minimize confusion and enhance the response.

Recovery: We must be prepared to assist students and staff in their emotional recovery from an emergency or disaster. To do this a Critical Incident Stress Management response plan is necessary to care for affected students and staff. Facilities recovery is another important consideration. It is important to have plans in place to get classes back in operation as soon as possible after the response is concluded.