Maintaining the safety of our schools is of paramount importance to the Watertown Board of Education and its staff. Whether caused by human actions, accidents, or natural disaster, crisis situations call for immediate planned action and long-term post crisis intervention.

Presently, a Crisis Committee, comprised of school board members, administrators, staff, parents, students, representatives of the police and fire departments, the medical community, and First Student School Bus Transportation, is creating a School Crisis Management Plan to assure effective decision making in the event of a crises, so that chaos and trauma may be minimized. The committee is also developing a Crisis Policy which will define the initiatives that will be taken to ensure that our schools are safe and secure places. These include the identification of areas of potential concern, intervention during a crisis, response in its aftermath, and the coordination of an efficient communications network.

When the Crisis Policy and the School Crisis Management Plan are completed and approved, appropriate training for staff and students will be conducted. Pertinent information will also be shared with parents.