School Emergencies & Standard Response Protocol SRP

No!  If there is a dangerous or unknown emergency you may place yourself in danger of imminent harm by showing up at the school- even outside the area.  The FISD will assess the situation in conjunction with police, fire, or other first responders to give you information as quickly and safely as it is available.  You will be given information on where to go to pick-up your child when it is safe to do so.  Sign up for the mobile app ahead of time to ensure you receive district emergency information.  Check the FISD website often for emergency information updates.

You can try calling either location.  However, if a campus is involved in an emergency, the phone lines may not be answered due to multiple reasons (danger, loss of phone lines due to weather, fire, jammed communications, etc.).  Follow the emergency information directives given on the FISD website and mobile app.  Remember, potentially hundreds of other parents will also be trying to contact FISD and their child’s campus.  This may jam communications.  Be patient and expect delays in phones being answered.  Remember, FISD staff and first responders are dealing with the emergency directly.

In some circumstances, you may be required to pick-up your child and come back to get the vehicle at another time after the emergency has concluded.  This could be for a number of reasons (e.g., police cars/firetrucks/ambulances or other equipment set up and blocking parking lots, debris from weather emergencies blocking routes, crime scenes, etc.).

In other circumstances, you child may be allowed to drive themselves away from campus after they have been accounted for and assessed for any medical needs.

Be patient.  All students must be accounted for, assessed for injury, and potentially transported to a safe location first.  This may include another school campus, an off-campus location (such as a church or business), or a medical facility.  When the FISD announces the reunification location and procedures, follow those directions. 

Be prepared to wait a long time.  DO NOT YELL AT STAFF- it does not help and slows the process. 

We understand you may be scared, upset, or angry.  Students will be released after each parent/guardian is identified.  Have your identification ready; students will NOT be released to parents/guardians who do not have identification.  You may be asked to fill out a form to pick-up your child.  This form allows FISD to release students faster as computer systems may be down making student information inaccessible.  It also allows FISD to have a record of who picked up your child.  *If your child is at a medical facility, you will be advised to go to that location.

-First: Do not call 911 to simply ask for information or inquire about your child.  This will only jam 911 emergency communication lines.  Only those people directly involved in an emergency should call 911.  If you are directly involved in an emergency and need help, call 911.

Do NOT go to the campus/location you may place yourself in imminent danger.  FISD will announce a reunification site as soon as a safe decision can be reached based on the emergency at hand.  Do NOT park or wait on the street nearby the location. This may block or otherwise hinder emergency vehicles traveling to and from the emergency location.  It could also put you in danger depending on the emergency.

In the event you are not able to come pick-up your child, FISD will attempt to contact all other listed emergency contacts on your child’s FISD enrollment form.  Keep in mind that computer files may not be readily accessible if systems are down.  This may take time to contact the people on your emergency list.  FISD will hold your child until you or an approved adult can pick them up.  If your child has their own vehicle at school, they might be allowed to leave on their own after they have been accounted for.  If they are not allowed to drive away, both the parent and the student will be notified that the student must be picked up.

If the campus is in a Lockdown due to an active threat inside the building, do NOT call your child.  Calling anyone who may be hiding can give away their hiding place.  You can consider texting your child; keep in mind that if your child’s cell phone is loud or lights up, texting can potentially give away their hiding place.  If your child calls or texts you, briefly remind them NOT to draw attention to themselves.

If you text- KEEP IT SIMPLE (e.g., “are you ok?”).  Avoid long and complicated texts.  Your child may not be able to respond because they are hiding.  Do not ask your child what you should do or where you should go.  That information could be wrong or change rapidly; rely on official information from FISD and/or police.  Do NOT tell your child to come outside and find you!  This may put them in danger.

The same information applies.  Do not call your child.  Consider briefly texting them as discussed above.  During any emergency, cell towers will become jammed with calls which may prevent (or delay) 911 and first responders from receiving emergency calls for help.

Be prepared to pick up your child by having your personal identification on hand.  Even if you are the parent, guardian, or emergency contact listed in your child’s file, you will STILL need to show proof of identification.  You may be asked to fill out a parent pick-up form.  Remember, during an emergency, electronic school files may not be accessible and FISD will ensure that children are released only to their legally responsible adults. 

Wait and get updated information; do NOT attempt to go to the campus/location.  Depending on the emergency and the condition of the building, students may be bussed to an alternate location for reunification/pick-up.  Know before you go!  Be patient.  Transporting students from one location to another is time consuming.

If you are directed to go to the campus, follow the reunification pick-up directions.  Even if you see your child outside, do NOT take the child and leave without signing your child out (this includes older children & teens)!  Do NOT direct your child to leave the building and meet you somewhere!  This could place your child in danger.  This will also cause first responders and staff to believe your child may still be inside and in danger.  Be patient, reunification will take an extended amount of time as we want all of our FISD students to be taken care of safely.

Make sure you subscribe to the Forney ISD mobile app to receive notifications and updated emergency information as soon as it can be validated and uploaded.  Those who wait to subscribe during or immediately following an emergency may experience a delay in receiving mobile app information.  Note: any weather conditions or outages in power or WIFI may also delay information posting.

Check the FISD website on a regular basis for emergency information.  Information will be updated as soon as it can be validated and uploaded.  Note: any weather conditions or outages in power or WIFI may also delay information posting