Statistics consistently show that schools are among the safest places to be due to the strong commitment of educators, families, and our community to our students and schools. We strive to be proactive rather than reactive. This guide outlines the key elements of Hollister R-V Public Schools’ state of preparedness. We hope it will answer questions you have concerning our actions and intentions in the event of an emergency.

For consistency, we have developed the following terms to use:

• Drill: An activity that covers a specific safety circumstance and is designed to prepare your student to act quickly and minimize questions and fears should an emergency take place. This includes fire, tornado, earthquake, and other emergency drills, including an unannounced lockdown.
• SRO: School Resource Officer; a uniformed officer assigned to our schools to help build and maintain relationships between police, students, families, and employees.
• Lockdown: The act of securing a premise by locking all exterior exits and sometimes interior doors. The nature of a lockdown is determined by whether the threat is inside or outside of a school. A lock-down can be designated:
  • “soft” lock-down, where exits are secured, but other normal activity takes place within a school,
  • “hard” lock-down, where individual room doors are also secured and individuals “shelter-in-place” and no movement by the general population of a building is allowed in and out of classrooms. “Hard” lockdowns include turning off lights, televisions, music, and any other sound, silencing cell phones, closing blinds, and moving students away from windows and doors.
• Reunification Site: Area where students and employees are transported. 
• Student Release Area: Location designated at a school or reunification site where families may pick up students. This location would be communicated to you at the time of an emergency.

As soon as possible, please:

• Ensure your contact information in your parent portal is current and accurate, including who is authorized to pick up your student.
  • We will use this information and ParentSquare communication channels (phone call, email, text message, and app), to provide accurate and timely information in the event of an emergency.
• Explain to your student that cell phones should not be used during an emergency unless directed by an adult. Your student must pay attention to instructions from trained personnel.

What you can expect if an emergency occurs:

• The emergency plan will be implemented and the district/school emergency teams will respond.
• All appropriate emergency response agencies will be dispatched to the school.
• Depending on the situation, students and employees will be secured within the building or relocated to a Reunification Site.
• Families will be kept informed on the situation with as much detail as possible. The first and official way for us to contact you in an emergency is by using ParentSquare communication channels (phone call, email, text message, and app). The automated phone calling system will most likely originate from the phone number 417-243-4000. Please save this phone number in your contact list now. Please only rely on these official communications. 
• In an emergency situation, phones are needed to manage the situation and lines must remain open. Calling could also put students and employees at risk in an intruder situation. For example, if they did not have time to turn down their ring volume, your call could potentially give away their hiding spot.
• You will not be allowed on school grounds during an emergency. Emergency personnel responding to the situation need the area clear to do their job. After emergency responders determine that a safe student release is possible, arrangements will be made to reunite students with their families. This will occur at a reunification site.
• Students will not be allowed to take their property (coat, backpack, etc.) with them in an emergency.

After an Emergency:

• You may be directed to a reunification site, where you will need to show photo identification.
  • Students will only be released to a parent, guardian, or other adult listed on the student’s Emergency Information Form, which you completed at the beginning of the school year. This procedure is designed for your student’s protection and for your peace of mind.
  • Please be aware that reunification can be very time-consuming, and we appreciate your patience.
• It is important to remain calm as students are greatly influenced by their family’s sense of well-being. At the same time, families need to be compassionate listeners when their student speaks of an emergency. Please seek help from the school, district, or community resources if you/your student have concerns.

Additionally, all Hollister R-V School District employees, students, families, and community members are encouraged to report anything they see, hear, or are made aware of that may impact a school. If you see or hear something, say something. Call your school administrator or Courage2Report at 1-866-748-7047.

• When providing information, please be as detailed as possible. Include the name of the school(s), the person(s) involved, the type of alleged activities, and when they occurred/may occur.
• All threats are taken seriously. Appropriate emergency personnel is notified, and law enforcement and school administrators work together to thoroughly investigate any threat, whether it is made verbally, in writing, by email, by text message, or online. The earlier we know about a potential threat, the earlier an investigation can begin.
• Anyone who makes a threat against a school could face criminal charges. If a student is involved in making a threat, the school/district will respond with disciplinary action.

WARNING: Action will be taken against any individual who attempts to impersonate an official Hollister R-V School District social media account or post false information about or from the school system under an anonymous account or alias. Depending on the nature of the post, such action may result in notification to local law enforcement. If made by an employee or student, it could result in disciplinary action.

How we respond to an emergency is greatly influenced by the specifics of an incident. Our plans do not replace the authority of emergency personnel. Our employees work in full cooperation with these agencies. 

For security reasons, components of our emergency plans are not publicly available.