The Chesapeake Public Schools are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all students, staff members, and visitors to our schools.  In the event of an emergency situation, the Chesapeake Public Schools works closely with appropriate local, state, regional, and federal public health and safety officials to respond promptly and effectively to minimize any threat to the health, safety, and/or security of those in our schools.  Depending upon the nature and scope of the emergency – including weather-related emergencies, fires, bomb threats, intruders, school shootings, accidents, and terrorism-related emergencies (including threat of biological, radiological, or chemical attacks) – school division staff will act at the direction of appropriate emergency management personnel.

In the event of an emergency, the Chesapeake Public Schools may be placed on either Alert or Lock-Down status as appropriate.  In such cases, appropriate public health and safety officials shall be alerted.  Depending upon the nature of the emergency and the advice or direction of authorities, students may be held in school, dismissed early, or evacuated.  Parents and guardians are asked to pay close attention to public announcements made on WFOS radio (88.7 F.M.), Channels 46 and 48 on cable television, the school divisions website (http://eclipse.cps.k12.va.us/), and to other local radio and television broadcasts.

Alert Status

“Alert” is a term used to notify staff that an emergency or crisis situation exists or is expected to exist at or near the school site.  When an Alert is issued, school personnel shall assure that all students are accounted for and under especially close supervision.  Students will not be allowed in hallways, restrooms, water fountains, or other areas of the building or campus except under the direct supervision of a staff member. 

Alert status shall be determined by either district administrators or building administrators in consultation with district administrators, depending upon the nature and location of the threat.  Administrators shall immediately notify staff members that Alert status has been called.  The method of notification shall be determined by the school principal, based upon the specific needs of the individual schools.  Where appropriate, students and staff may be notified of the nature of the threat or incident.

Upon the implementation of Alert status, staff members are to immediately account for all of the students in their care, report to administrators or their designees any students unaccounted for, and continue normal instruction while awaiting further instructions.  Classes (such as PE) that are meeting out of doors, should be relocated into the school building if it is safe to do so.  Although students are not to be unaccompanied during an Alert, it is not necessary to implement a lockdown.

If the nature of the emergency allows for class changes without putting students or staff at risk, class changes shall proceed as normal.  If, however, changing classes would pose an unacceptable risk, teachers and students shall be notified that the class change will be delayed until it is safe to do so, and bells shall be disabled.

During an Alert, staff members who do not have direct responsibilities for student supervision (i.e., administrators, support staff, teachers during their “planning bells”) may be assigned other duties as appropriate.  Such duties may include monitoring exterior doors, manning telephones, or other duties as determined by the principal.

Lock-Down Status

Lock-Down is a term used to notify students and staff that a condition exists that poses an imminent danger to students or staff.  In addition to the precautions taken during an Alert, the following actions are to be taken when Lock-Down status is announced:

All staff and students must remain in a classroom or other secured location.  Students or staff in the hallways or common areas are to immediately report to the closest classroom or other secure area.  Students are to remain quiet and await staff instructions.

All interior and exterior doors are to be locked, and windows kept closed and locked.  Staff members and students are to be kept away from doors and windows.

All class changes shall be suspended, and no one will be permitted to enter or leave the building except as determined safe by emergency services personnel.

Closings due to inclement weather:

When schools are closed due to weather conditions, the following codes will be used by those announcing school closing:

CODE RED:  Schools and offices are closed for all

                         personnel except those employees  

                         designated as essential personnel.

CODE YELLOW:  Schools are closed.  

                         Administrators and twelve-month 

                         personnel are expected to report.

CODE GREEN:  Schools are closed for students 

                         only.  Teachers and all other  

                         personnel are expected to report.

NOTE: Please monitor radio station WFOS-FM (88.7) operated by Chesapeake Public Schools and cable television station WCPS (Cox Cable Channel 46) also operated by Chesapeake Public Schools or cable television station WCTV-48 (Cox Cable Channel 48), operated by the City of Chesapeake, for accurate and timely information on any changes in the published schedule.