September 19, 2024
To All Parents and Guardians:
The Millinocket School Department Administration Team has been working diligently throughout the summer to update and enhance our comprehensive emergency plan.
The safety of your child and all children in our schools as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice our emergency response plan by having drills designed to exercise our procedures.
Due to the current national climate that we live in, we will be conducting various drills throughout the school year, and each subsequent school year. This letter is to help you understand the importance of this, as well as, to understand each type of drill.
FIRE DRILLS
The school will conduct a “fire drill” each month that school is in session. This is a Fire Code requirement as well as a requirement for all Maine public schools. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the fire alarm is sounded. By practicing they will know what to do and how to do it. These drills will take approximately 3-5 minutes.
SECURE/LOCKDOWN DRILLS
The school will conduct “Secure/Lockdown Drills” periodically throughout each school year. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a “Secure/Lockdown drill” all of the perimeter doors to the school building will be locked and will remain locked until the danger or issue outside or inside the building is removed. To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is completed. These drills will take approximately 3-5 minutes.
EVACUATION DRILLS
During an “Evacuation Drill”, students will be safely escorted along a designated evacuation route to one of our predetermined evacuation sites. At the conclusion of the drill, all students will be escorted back to the school. These drills will take approximately 20-30 minutes.
In the event of an actual emergency evacuation, you will receive notification where to pick up your child as soon as practicable.
Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work.
If you have any questions regarding any of these Safety Drills or other safety concerns, please contact your school office, or the office of the superintendent.