Pomperaug Regional
School District 15
286 Whittemore Road,
P.O. Box 395
Middlebury, CT 06762-0395
203-758-8258

REGION 15 REVIEWS EMERGENCY PLAN FOR

2003-04 SCHOOLYEAR

Teachers, Staff Notified of Emergency Operations Plan

 September 5, 2003, Middlebury/Southbury—School administrators from the Pomperaug Regional School District 15 in collaboration with Middlebury and Southbury town officials have reviewed the District’s Emergency Operations Plan to prepare teachers and students should an emergency arise in the schools. Thirty specific emergencies are detailed in the document, which is posted at every school. The Region 15 school programs are well regarded, the students rank high in all measures of academic performance, and the sports teams and extracurricular activities provide students with many opportunities to grow. Yet, as is evidenced by last month’s multi-state blackout, no one is immune to a crisis.

“My first priority is for the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” said Dr. Frank Sippy, Region 15 superintendent of schools. “To this end, we have reviewed our plan for how to deal with any emergency that could occur.” Sippy also notes that the Emergency Operations Guide supports President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind legislation, passed in January 2002. A significant part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is the focus on safety in the schools by implementing programs that protect students and teachers, encouraging discipline and personal responsibility, and combating illegal drugs.  Region 15 staff, in cooperation with Middlebury and Southbury fire and police administrators, developed the Emergency Operations Guide as part of a grant in 2002. The leaflet details emergencies such as:  power outage, water shortage, tornado/hurricane safety, violent shootings, suspected child abuse, and bomb threats. All school staff and teachers are required to be familiar with their responsibilities in the plan and the schools conduct frequent drills to ensure smooth operations in times of actual emergencies.Parents can view the Guide at the principal’s office of any Region 15 school.“Our children are our greatest treasures and all children need a safe environment in which to learn and achieve. I believe the Emergency Operations Guide will help the staff make good decisions in a crisis to keep the children safe while they are in our care. Above all, I want to make sure that everyone, staff and students alike, have a wonderful school year,” said Dr. Sippy.