Emergency Communication

At Suffolk Public Schools, our students' and staff' safety and well-being remain our top priority. To keep families informed and reassured during emergencies, we want to ensure parents understand our steps to provide timely, accurate, and transparent communication. This overview outlines our crisis communication protocols and reinforces our commitment to student safety and open dialogue with our school community. 

In the event of an emergency, the school division will:

• Activate its emergency plan and response teams, while all appropriate emergency response agencies will be dispatched to the school.
• Depending on the nature of the incident, students and staff will either be secured within the building or relocated to a designated safe site.
• Families will be kept informed through official Suffolk Public Schools communications, with the automated phone system serving as the primary method of contact.
• For safety and efficiency, parents will not be permitted on school grounds during an emergency, as responders require the area to remain clear.
• Once it is deemed safe, emergency personnel will either clear the building or coordinate a controlled release of students at a designated reunification site. 

Parents, please ensure your contact information in eschool is current and accurate, including who is authorized to pick up your student. Suffolk Public Schools will use this information and multiple communication channels (if opted in) to provide accurate and timely information in the event of an emergency. Our goal is to be transparent while protecting the privacy and well-being of those involved. Information will be shared once it is verified and appropriate for release. 

Types of Building Emergencies May Include: 

• Weather-related closures or delays
• Building evacuations (e.g., fire, gas leak)
• Safety threats
• Medical emergencies involving multiple students/staff
• Unexpected changes to dismissal or transportation

Communication Channels Include:

• Phone Calls, Text Alerts & Emails (Sent through our automated messaging system) 
• School/Division Website Announcements 
• Social Media, if necessary - (verified school and district accounts ONLY)
• Local news outlets may be asked to broadcast information

Impersonating an official Suffolk Public Schools social media account or posting false information about or from the school system under an anonymous account or alias may result in notification to local law enforcement. If made by an employee or student, it could result in disciplinary action.