An article appeared in the pamphlet “Maine Prepares” in the September 10, 2006 Maine Sunday Telegram entitled, “How Prepared is Your School for a Disaster?” In that article, Susan Gendron, Maine’s Commissioner of Education, noted that the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) provided updated service information at this past summer’s conference. That information is included in a booklet entitled, “Is Your School Ready?”

John Casey, assistant principal at the Middle School; Mark Tinkham, assistant principal at the High School; and Tom Eismeier, principal at Pond Cove, working with local police, fire, and EMS people, prepared a plan for each building two years ago. The annual fall review of these plans is currently underway. We will be reviewing our plan with the MEMA information and include additions based on work I did this summer with Project SMARR/RT for Cumberland and York Counties.

The safety of our students and staff is of prime importance. Managing visitors to schools and working closely with local police and fire departments is integral to our program. As Susan Gendron noted, “…having ongoing annual training, having trained crisis teams and performing drills with students are all vital for the planners to discover what works and what doesn’t…. Protecting the children in Maine’s schools is vital,” as is our connection with community safety.

We also have a nationally known expert coming in to review our plans and to help us update and make revisions. Once these plans have been revised for 2006-2007, staff meetings will review the contents and plan for needed practices.

- Alan Hawkins, Superintendent of Schools

(See article on pp. 6&7 of “Maine Prepares” a special supplement September 10, Maine Sunday Telegram. If you need help obtaining a copy please contact the Superintendent’s office.

An online version of the insert can be found on the Bangor Daily News website at: http://adserver1.harvestadsdepot.com/bangordaily/ss/052029/)