Connecticut School Shooting, What is North Allegheny's Emergency Notification Plan?

In the wake of the  Friday, officials were able to contact parents through a reverse 911 call. A similar communications system exists in the North Allegheny School District.

The following information is posted on the district web site.

SchoolMessenger, a web-based telephone notification system, is the primary vehicle used for the communication of weather-related cancellation or delay information, as well as other emergency or crisis-related messages.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that their information is correctly registered in this system.

Information is also posted on the District website, submitted to the three local television stations, and displayed on NATV Cable.

Emergency Plan

There are a number of key details about which parents should be informed in the event of a school-based emergency:

• First and foremost, the safety of our students and staff is our primary focus and responsibility.

• Across the District, building plans and procedures for crisis response are regularly reviewed and updated. District personnel are trained.

• Each building is staffed by a nurse or a nurse's assistant. Personnel with CPR and medical emergency certification are identified in each building.

• As a health/safety precaution, a school campus may be closed to all visitors except emergency and law enforcement personnel. If the school campus is closed, parents will be directed to an identified staging area.

• Parents should check the website, NATV Cable (Armstrong 50, Comcast 98, Consolidated 406, Verizon 33), and local television and radio channels for information. Parents may telephone the main switchboard at Central Offices, 412-366-2100, if necessary, until a staging area for communications is in place and operational. Parents should not call the school building.  Any available school telephone lines should be kept open for emergency communications.

• If a student is injured during an emergency situation, every effort will be made to contact the parent/guardian as soon as possible. It is the parent/guardian's responsibility to complete and submit emergency care cards to the school office and to keep the information current.

• Every family should devise a personal plan to be put into place in the event of a community-based emergency crisis. This plan should include where to meet, the location of necessary supplies, a battery-operated flashlight, radio, etc.

For the very latest on the Connecticut shooting, click here for coverage from the Newtown Patch.