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🦺 SAFETY & EMERGENCY
BVUSD SAFETY FRAMEWORK
This public page is intended to share safety information with our community.
Per guidance from local agencies and safety experts, we do not publicly share all safety materials, but they are available for viewing upon request.
This public page is designed to provide important safety information with our community.
Please note that some materials are not publicly accessible.
Browse the page, or jump to a section of interest:
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Our Commitment to Safety |
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BVUSD is deeply committed to the safety of our students and staff.
We train, practice, and think through scenarios, so that we are prepared to respond in an organized and effective way during emergencies.
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| STUDENT DRILLS | STAFF TRAINING | PARENT PARTNERS |
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Every staff member is assigned a specific emergency role, and we practice how to adapt to evolving, context-specific circumstances. |
Students participate in age-appropriate drills. Their primary role is always to follow staff instructions. |
Families play an important role in supporting day-to-day expectations — and, in an emergency, by participating in a safe reunification process. |
The Standard Reunification Process
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What is Reunification? |
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| Reunification is a systematic safety protocol that ensures each student is individually returned to the correct parent or guardian following a school emergency, disaster, or serious incident. | ||
| Reunification is rare, but preparation is key; understanding the process helps us reunite safely. | ||
| It will take time. | ||
| SAFETY OVER SPEED |
The safest response
takes time & patience. |
PARENT PARTNERS |
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Following procedures is essential. The quickest access to your student is not always the safest. Rushing to the school or ignoring directions compromises safety. |
BVUSD will send alerts and updates through ParentSquare, and/or our website. If technology systems are down, Staff Greeters will be available in a designated area. |
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How Can Families Help? |
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We ask families to cooperate fully so that every student can be safely reunited with their family. |
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| Here are three key ways to help: | ||
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#1 PATIENCE |
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| Reunification is often the most complicated protocol in an emergency plan; it’s more than simply “picking up” your child. Each student is individually released through a controlled system. | ||
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WAIT FOR GUIDANCE Do not rush directly to the school site unless directed. |
IT WILL TAKE TIME |
KEEP STEADY Responding as calmly as possible help move the process along. |
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#2 PREPAREDNESS |
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| Accurate information keeps the process safe and streamlined without having to slow the process for everyone. | ||
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PHOTO ID Try to remember it. Caregivers without ID may have to wait |
EMERGENCY CONTACTS Keep information current, as students are released to contacts we have on file |
LOCAL ALERTS We recommend the ones we’ve listed below. |
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#3 PARTNERSHIP |
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| With parent cooperation, we can ensure every student is reunited with their family as quickly and securely as possible. | ||
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COMMUNICATION After safety, our next priority is keeping families informed. Individual calls can slow us down. |
TRUST We’ve spent a lot of time researching & refining our protocols. |
COOPERATION Help us reunite every student with their caregiver. Cooperation supports safety & efficiency. |
STAY INFORMED!
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Stay informed & sign up for alerts |
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| Sonoma County recommends the following | ||
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Resources for Emergency: Readiness, Updates , & Recovery |
First responder alerts with action(s) you may need to take |
Crowdsourcing fire data in real time |
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Weather, water and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support services |
Register for community alerts, advisories, traffic, and other local news |
911-connected emergency alerts – plus CPR help by nearby trained volunteers |
BVUSD SAFETY PLANS
OUR COMMITMENT & RESOURCES
Our Commitment to Safety
BVUSD plans reflect a comprehensive, research-based approach to supporting early intervention, staff training, and standardized emergency response protocols.
District leadership remains deeply committed to best practices in school safety, including regular consultation with local experts. This commitment led us to explore San Mateo County’s exemplary work, including the creation of The Big 5 protocols. More information about The Big 5 and additional key resources is available below.
Overview of the Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP)
Since 1997, California Education Code has required districts to develop a Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP). Because BVUSD has fewer than 2,501 students, we are permitted to create a single district-wide CSSP in lieu of separate site-based plans.
To further streamline emergency preparedness, our plan integrates all CSSP requirements with components of a standard Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). This integrated document serves as both the legal and operational framework for emergency response in BVUSD and is subject to Board approval.
Supporting documents are provided in Annexes A–E, which contain tactical details, staff roles, checklists, and other tools for emergency planning and recovery. These annexes may be updated without requiring Board approval.
⚠️ For safety and security: Annexes C, D, and E are available only to BVUSD staff and are not posted publicly.
San Mateo’s Big 5 & Regional Collaboration
BVUSD adopted the Big 5 framework, developed by the San Mateo County Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities, which reflects national best practices in school safety. Following site visits and workshops, we adapted their model to meet BVUSD’s needs.
Sonoma County is now developing a similar framework, The Essential 5, and BVUSD is proud to be the first district in the county to formally adopt a county-aligned plan.
Our partnership with San Mateo County also introduced us to their Student Threat Assessment Protocol, a vital early intervention tool. Multiple BVUSD staff have been trained in its implementation.
Community Matters: Culture, Climate & Student Voice
To build on our safety plan with a strong foundation in climate and culture, BVUSD partnered with Community Matters, a globally recognized, locally based organization. Their evidence-based programs promote social-emotional learning, school connectedness, and student empowerment through an “inside-out” approach to bullying prevention and school safety.
BVUSD staff have participated in several full-day trainings, and we are in the process of expanding access to all school staff.
Highlights include:
- Integration of core strategies in the updated BVUSD Community Handbook (August 2023)
- Implementation of the Safe School Ambassadors® program at Strawberry School (Spring 2024)
- Planned launch of Safe School Buddies at Yulupa School by 2025, supported through community-based grants
“I Love U Guys” Foundation: Reunification Protocols
BVUSD also adopted reunification practices from the internationally recognized “I Love U Guys” Foundation, used by more than 45,000 schools and districts worldwide.
The Standard Reunification Method provides a tested framework for safely and efficiently reuniting students with their families after a critical incident.
While reunification is unlikely, it is one of the most complex emergency responses. We are prepared with signage, supplies, staff assignments, parent communication templates, and other tools.
Plan Review & Approval Process
Each year, BVUSD staff review the safety plan to ensure compliance with current law and alignment with evolving best practices. The process includes:
- Internal Review by BVUSD staff
- Collaborative Feedback through the District Advisory Council (DAC)
- Formal Board Approval by BVUSD Trustees
- Agency Review by local law enforcement, fire, and insurance partners