Stratford School Practices Emergency Response Drill

Garden City Police arrive at Stratford School.

Under federal regulation, each school district and school building is required to have an Emergency Response Plan to ensure the safety of students and staff when faced with an emergency situation.

On October 19th the Garden City Public Schools, the Village of Garden City, Garden City Police and Fire Departments, BOCES,. the district Health and Safety Team, the Stratford Health and Safety Committee, the district Transportation Department and central administration worked collaboratively to execute the Stratford Emergency Response Plan, which was put to the test during a simulation exercise involving the evacuation of students and staff. Seven hundred and forty six students and seventy four staff members were safely transported to an evacuation site while Stratford was secured for their return.

Students and teachers preparing to board buses to St. Paul’s.

The purpose of this emergency response drill was to test the validity of the building level Emergency Response Plan, particularly the layers of communication, the district’s ability to evacuate students and relocate them to a temporary shelter site, and the ability of school staff to manage children and work with administration and emergency services during a building emergency.

Assistant Transportation Supervisor Linda Greene and Detective Richard Pedone discuss transportation plan.

Under the leadership of Principal Ms. Diane Hopkins and Assistant Principal Mrs. Susan Guiliano, Stratford Avenue School initiated the Emergency Response Plan. Emergency personnel were called to the scene and transportation was called upon for evacuation. Stratford students were escorted away from the building to a staging area where they awaited instructions. Transportation arrived promptly while the Garden City Police Department controlled local traffic. Students and staff loaded buses and were transported to St. Paul’s Field House, where they stayed until the school building was searched and deemed safe by district administration, police and fire authorities.

Students in wheel chairs were transported to St. Paul’s.

Part of the Emergency Response Plan included setting up a triage area at the evacuation site in an effort to tend to injured students or staff, if needed. No injuries of any kind were experienced. Also tested was the ability to evacuate disabled persons within the building and to the evacuation site. At the end of the simulation, the students and staff at Stratford Avenue School were complimented by Ms. Hopkins for their cooperation throughout this two hour drill. The entire drill was also video taped, and observers watched closely as the plan was carried out. The District will use the data collected from the observers and from the video tape to conduct additional training for district employees and to revise and update Emergency Response Plans.

The school nurse used a shopping cart to carry necessary medical equipment.

The gym at St. Paul’s housed Stratford School students. Director of Facilities and Operations Frank Russo and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen. Students file into St. Paul’s. Every teacher had a “lollipop” with his/her name for students to quickly identify their class. Game time! The all clear signal was given and children talked among their friends. Detective James Bartkowski, Michelle Brown, BOCES; Laurie Duggan Gold, Adelphi University; John Powell, Assistant Superintendent Garden City Schools; Peter LaDuca, BOCES. Each class is identified and counted at St. Paul’s. Buses arrive at St. Paul’s within one hour of the emergency response announcement. Assistant Principal Susan Guiliano and Principal Diane Hopkins with children at St. Paul’s. Jacqueline Rogan checks in each class. Miss Nicolini boards her second graders on the bus. Stratford School Principal Diane Hopkins giving directions.