Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Counselors at Law
School Law Alert – A Shipman & Goodwin Registered Trademark Alert

September 3, 2014

Authors: Julie C. Fay, (860) 251-5009, JFay@goodwin.com
Peter J. Maher, (860) 251-5507, PMaher@goodwin.com

Important Update Regarding School Security and Safety Plans
The 2014-2015 school year marks the first year that public school districts must implement school security and safety plans for each school under Public Act 13-3, passed in the wake of the Newtown tragedy.  The law, now codified at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-222m, requires districts to establish a school security and safety committee at each school.  Those committees, in turn, are responsible for assisting in the development of the school security and safety plans and the administration of those plans.  In January 2014, the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) within the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), in consultation with the Connecticut Department of Education, released school security and safety standards as well as a template on which boards of education must base their school security and safety plans. 

Earlier this summer, DESPP/DEMHS clarified that districts must develop and implement school security and safety plans by the first day of school for the 2014-2015 school year.  In addition, through informal conversations, the state also clarified several other points, based on early feedback on submitted plans, that may be helpful to districts as they finalize and implement their plans:

•	Districts should submit as part of their school security and safety plans all of the annexes and appendices contained in the state’s template.
•	The state will not be “approving” or “disapproving” the plans, but will review them and provide findings and recommendations.
•	The required National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) trainings for all school personnel and leadership personnel should be completed by the end of this school year, but districts should include a training plan and schedule in their security and safety plans submitted to the state.
•	Districts should ensure that the signatory page to the plan is completed, indicating that the proper district-level, school-level, and municipal officials have collaborated on and approved the plan.  Districts should also provide copies of school security and safety plans to those community partners listed on the signatory page.
•	Districts are reminded that, in addition to submitting their plans to DESPP/DEMHS, school security and safety plans must be made an annex to the municipality’s local emergency operations plan, which is also filed annually with DESPP/DEMHS.
•	Annual reports from districts to DEMHS Regional Coordinators regarding the types, frequency, and feedback related fire and crisis response drills are due July 1 of each year, beginning on July 1, 2015.
A school district with questions relating to the requirements for school security and safety plans should contact any member of Shipman & Goodwin LLP’s School Law Group.  

This communication is being circulated to Shipman & Goodwin LLP clients and friends and does not constitute an attorney client relationship. The contents are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended and should not be construed as legal advice. This may be deemed advertising under certain state laws. © 2014 Shipman & Goodwin LLP.

Offices:
One Constitution Plaza Hartford, CT  06103-1919 860-251-5000
300 Atlantic Street Stamford, CT  06901-3522 203-324-8100
1875 K Street, NW – Suite 600 Washington, DC  20006-1251  202-469-7750
289 Greenwich Avenue Greenwich, CT  06830-6595 203-869-5600
12 Porter Street Lakeville, CT  06039-1809 860-435-2539
www.shipmangoodwin.com