Ann Arbor Public Schools' administrators and staff have completed emergency plans and training with help from Prepared Response, which provides on-site emergency preparedness consulting and training to schools.

Prepared Response assisted the district with creating a new district emergency management and communications plan, site-specific school emergency response plans, and emergency preparedness training. The company also performed security and vulnerability assessments at 35 Ann Arbor Public School locations to determine district and site-specific vulnerabilities and risks and coached staff in how to complete future assessments. The consulting and training was conducted over a 12-month period and was funded by a Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) grant from the federal government.

"The safety of students and staff at Ann Arbor Public Schools is our number one concern," said Superintendent Todd Roberts. "By re-evaluating and updating the district and individual school crisis plans and conducting extensive training throughout the district, our administrators and staff are now even more prepared for an emergency at our district's schools."

The district has 20 elementary schools, one K-8 open school, five middle schools, three comprehensive high schools, three alternative high schools, one pre-school, and one adult education program. Student enrollment is 16,458, and the district employs 3,000 staff members.

Source:  T.H.E. Journal,  June 2009