All employees are trained in the emergency response plan before school begins. Each teacher and staff member is trained in these types of emergencies: Fire, Lockdown, Intruder, Earthquake, Weapons, Sheltering, Medical, Seizure, and Anaphylactic Reaction. Emergency flipcharts are hung in each classroom by the exit. Along with the flipchart is a clipboard with class rosters, emergency exit routes, and communication signs (click link).
Each Davinci Academy locations have in place Emergency Response Plans that address emergency situations. These plans are updated annually to address new staffing, student needs, community concerns, new research and input from the local law enforcement personnel. The Emergency Response Plans are broad in their approach in order to respond to the many situations that could arise. The plans include response to:
Preparation, general responses, staff responsibilities, school codes or signals, crisis team membership, evacuation routes and relocation sites, lock-down procedures, public information, communication solutions and procedures, canceling school, media response, early warning signs of violent behaviors, violent behavior prevention, and intervention;
- Fire
- Severe weather
- Earthquake
- Hazardous Materials/Chemical Spills
- Weapon in school
- Bomb threats
- Intruder/hostage situations
- Medical emergency
- Suicide attempt/death
Staff trainings are held annually during faculty meetings to orient employees to their roles and responsibilities in emergency situations. Drills for fire and other emergency situations are conducted throughout the year. Schools collaborate with local law enforcement to hold lockdown, intruder, and active shooter drills, taking into account the age and maturity of students. High school students participate actively in drills to simulate realistic behaviors, and local EMTs and firefighters join as appropriate. At least one non-fire emergency drill is conducted each year before April 30.Each location includes, as part of its regular curriculum, violence prevention and intervention strategies such as anger management, conflict resolution, and respect for diversity and other cultures. DaVinci Academy contracts with both Public and Mental Health agencies to promote safe and healthy environments and to provide crisis counseling when necessary if crisis events occur. All locations have personnel trained in CPR and First Aid to respond to medical emergencies. Updated training is provided annually for these identified personnel. Each location maintains a Crisis Team to coordinate and direct actions during any school crisis in concert with local emergency and law enforcement agencies. Each location has in place school codes for evacuation and/or lockdown procedures as well as identified Relocation Centers where students and teachers are to assemble if an emergency evacuation is required due to an intruder situation or other situations that would require students and staff to leave the immediate school grounds. Each location has a Lockdown procedure including:
- Code for lockdown and “all clear”
- Securing of both outside and inside doors
- Covering windows
- Positioning of students in the classroom
- Following instructions of school administration and/or law enforcement.
Each location directs visitors to the main office for check-in before proceeding into the school. Doors that do not need to be unlocked in order to maintain a flow of students from one building to another for classes are kept locked in order to maintain as much security as possible.
DaVinci Academy has an identified Public Information process to effectively control information flow and media access, as well as for providing necessary information to the public and to staff and students. School facilities are inspected annually to determine if problems exist which could negatively impact school physical safety and security.
DaVinci Academy works closely with the Ogden Police Department and our State Risk Management Agency to conduct risk assessments at each school, ensuring the safety of students and staff. Policies are in place covering citizenship, civility, drug and alcohol use, student conduct, smoking and tobacco use, possession of dangerous weapons, and student–staff relations. Character education is taught at every school, and counseling and psychological services support school-level interventions, including strategies for violence prevention and intervention. Background checks are required of all employees and regular volunteers. Playground supervision is provided to ensure student safety. School maps and evacuation routes are updated annually and shared with law enforcement. Surveillance cameras are installed in all secondary schools.
Each location maintains emergency phone numbers and addresses to ensure effective communication during emergencies. The Academy also uses 'Parent-Link' to send important notifications and instructions to parents when needed.
DaVinci Academy welcomes parents and community members to share suggestions for improving safety at our schools. You can speak with your school principal, submit recommendations through our website, or call the Executive Administrator.
