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Category: EOP

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May 2, 2023

Mental Health and Threat Assessment

Behavioral assessment is an essential tool that can help prevent and manage an array of challenges in schools. It involves identifying and evaluating potential threats posed by individuals and developing strategies to address them. By using a threat assessment approach, schools can identify students who are at risk of harming themselves or others and provide them with the necessary support and intervention.

A threat assessment team is typically composed of individuals with different backgrounds and areas of expertise who work together to assess potential threats and risks to the school community. The composition of the team may vary depending on the school district’s policies and procedures but typically includes the following:

  • School Administrators
  • School Psychologist or mental health professional 
  • School Counselor
  • School Resource Officer 
  • Teacher or staff member

Mental health challenges are a significant concern for schools today. Students may experience stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that can impact their academic performance, behavior, and social interactions. Moreover, students who are struggling with mental health challenges may be at risk of engaging in dangerous behaviors such as self-harm or violence toward others.

By implementing a threat assessment approach, schools can better identify and address these risks. The threat assessment process typically involves several steps:

  1. Identify the threat: This involves identifying students who are exhibiting concerning behaviors. It may also involve identifying students who are struggling with mental health challenges, such as anxiety or depression, and who may be at risk of engaging in dangerous behaviors. 
  2. Gather information: This involves interviewing the student, speaking with teachers and other appropriate school personnel, reviewing the student’s academic and disciplinary records, and consulting with mental health professionals and law enforcement as needed. 
  3. Assess the risk: This involves evaluating the potential harm the student may pose to themselves or others. Based on this assessment, school administrators can determine the appropriate level of intervention needed to address the situation.
  4. Develop a plan: This involves creating a personalized plan for the student based on their specific needs and circumstances. It is important to keep in mind that while there are common warning signs, mental health struggles can look different in every student.
  5. Implement the plan: This involves putting the plan into action and providing ongoing support and monitoring for the student. This may include working with mental health professionals, school staff, and the student’s family to ensure that everyone is aware of the situation and knows how to respond if necessary.

The nSide platform offers a behavioral threat assessment case management system that allows those teams to easily monitor, manage, and store all threat assessment cases.  This provides a centralized location for all threat assessment information, allowing appropriate personnel to follow cases through to the end, quickly access and review past cases, as well as identify patterns and trends that may require further action.

nSide is proud to offer a platform that houses everything related to school safety in one central location to make it easier to access, share the responsibility, and maintain it year after year. We use this connected technology to bring together everyone in your school community, including administrators, SROs, teachers, students, law enforcement, and EMS. Everything we offer is centered around connecting these groups to make reactions quick and directions clear. We work to help you create an environment that not only saves lives but also creates an environment that feels safe so learning can flourish.

Want to know more about how nSide can help?

Email us: help@nside.io

Call us: 1-800-604-1822

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May 2, 2023
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Blog Banner A Disjointed Approach to School Safety
April 19, 2023

A Disjointed Approach to School Safety

It is necessary that schools take a comprehensive and cohesive approach to ensuring the safety of their students and staff. If school safety procedures and protocols are inconsistent or unclear, it can lead to uncertainty and insecurity, negatively impacting the learning environment. A disjointed approach can undermine the trust and confidence that students, faculty,  staff, and parents have in a school’s ability to keep them safe. 

It is easy to see how confusion can ensue when the elements of school safety planning are all housed in different apps, software, or physical locations. For example, elements of school safety planning and where they are often housed can look like this:

In addition to the locations of these elements, it is important to consider how easily accessible these elements are for all relevant personnel. An integrated school safety management system that combines all the elements of school safety, such as emergency response plans, threat assessments, and incident reporting, into a single, ready-to-use platform can reduce fragmentation and increase access to information for those who need it. Utilizing such systems makes it easier to reduce confusion and increase the effectiveness of such measures. 

Additionally, schools should prioritize communication and collaboration among all members involved in school safety. This includes regular training sessions, drills, and meetings with local emergency response agencies to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working together to keep the school and community safe. Here are 5 steps that schools can take to address the issue:

  1. Conduct a thorough assessment of the current safety measures: Schools should evaluate their existing safety procedures and identify any gaps or inconsistencies that need to be addressed. This assessment should involve input from all stakeholders to ensure that a variety of perspectives are being taken into account. 
  2. Develop a comprehensive safety plan: Based on the assessment, schools should develop a comprehensive safety plan that outlines specific steps to address any gaps or weaknesses in their current approach. The plan should include clear protocols for responding to emergencies, as well as strategies for preventing incidents from occurring in the first place. 
  3. Provide training and education: Schools should provide training and education to all staff and students to ensure they understand the safety protocols and know how to respond in an emergency. This training should be ongoing and regularly updated to ensure everyone is prepared. nSide Training focuses on using the nSide Platform, as well as school safety best practices such as drills, tabletop exercises, threat assessments, and assemblies. 
  4. Utilize technology: Technology can be a valuable tool in enhancing school safety. Schools can use security cameras, 360-mapping, fleet tracking, access management, and more to monitor the school environment and identify potential threats. Integrating the nSide Suite of Products into your existing emergency management systems can help put you on the right path toward keeping your schools safe. 
  5. Foster a culture of safety: Districts should work to foster a culture of safety that encourages all members of the community to be vigilant and proactive when it comes to safeguarding our schools. This can be achieved through regular communication and outreach to students, staff, and parents, as well as through the establishment of relationships with local first responders and emergency management organizations.

It is essential that schools take a holistic approach to school safety, bringing together all the necessary elements in a coordinated and accessible manner. By conducting a thorough assessment, developing a comprehensive safety plan, providing training and education, utilizing technology, and fostering a culture of safety, schools can create a safer and more secure environment for their students, staff, and community. 

nSide, Inc.™ is proud to offer a platform to house your school’s safety plans. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all we have to offer to help keep schools safe.

Email us at help@nside.io so that we can help you build the best safety plan for your school!

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April 19, 2023
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Blog Banner FAQ pt 2 (2)
April 3, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions – Part 2

Here at nSide, we aim to ensure that school administrators and safety professionals can easily manage the various elements required to keep their schools safe. We also understand that things can be confusing and unclear sometimes. This is why we have created a Frequently Asked Questions list (Part 1 and Part 2) to hopefully answer any questions you may have about using the nSide platform!

How do I add a contact?

To add a contact:

  • Navigate to the Contacts page of nSide.
  • In the Contacts column, click the Add button (green plus sign icon)
  • In the pop-up, fill out all information.
  • Click the blue Add Contact button.
Be sure to select the correct category and position before clicking “Add Contact.” If these are not selected, the contact will default to the pre-selected categories.

How can I organize my contacts?

The Contacts section consists of a school or district’s list of contacts of both contacts within the school system (ex: employees) and outside of the school system (ex: Local EMA groups, etc.).

Users have the ability to create categories for contacts in nSide. Users can make as many categories as they would like.

To create a Category:

  • Navigate to the Contacts page in nSide.
  • On the right side of the page, scroll to the Categories column.
  • Click the Add button (green plus-sign icon).
  • In the pop-up, type in the name of the category you would like to create.
  • Click the blue Add Category button.

What is the difference between a contact and a user?

Contacts may include individuals within the school system (ex: employees) and outside of the school system (ex: Local EMA groups, etc.).

Users can be assigned to a particular district and/or school and have permissions set for their organization. 

To better understand the difference between these two categories, refer to the following chart: 

How do I assign a contact to our district or school’s EOP (Emergency Operations Plan)?

ALL contacts must be added under the CONTACTS tab of the nSide platform before any actions are taken to assign roles within the EOP.

Once all contacts have been added under the CONTACTS tab, then you can navigate to the PLANS tab to assign the contacts roles within the EOP.

  • Click on the Plans tab at the top of your page.
  • Then click on the category you want to edit first. For example, you may want to start by organizing the EOP Core Planning Team and Emergency Telephone List:

At the top right corner, you will see a series of icons and buttons: 

  • Click on the green Add button.
  • You will see a pop-up screen:
  • First, choose the correct role for the contact you are adding. 
  • Then, click the green plus-sign icon to add the correct contact. 
  • NOTE: If you do not choose the role first, the contact will default to the title that was pre-selected.
  • You will see a pop-up screen when you click the add button:
Simply click the green plus-sign button next to the contact you would like to add to that role. 
April 3, 2023
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Blog Banner FAQ
March 9, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions – Part 1

Here at nSide, we aim to ensure that school administrators and safety professionals can easily manage the various elements required to keep their schools safe. We also understand that things can be confusing and unclear sometimes. This is why we have created a Frequently Asked Questions list to hopefully answer any questions you may have about using the nSide platform!

How do I add a new user?

To add a new user, there are a few steps you must take:

  • Log in to your nSide account
  • Locate the Organization Manager on the right-hand side of your screen
  • Once you have opened the Organization Manager, click the “Manage Invitations” tab
  • Invite user(s) to register
  • Enter one or more email addresses and click the “Invite User(s)” button below to send

Alternatively, a user may request an account. The SPOC will then have to once again enter the “Manage Invitations” tab and either accept or reject the request. For more details on this process, read our article about the Organization Manager.

Why won’t my EOP turn green?

In the nSide Platform, the individual sections of your Emergency Operations Plan have three color distinctions depending on their level of completion:

If your EOP indicator doesn’t turn green, it means that there is something incomplete in the EOP.

How do I add a drill/training report?

Once you have logged in to the nSide Platform, locate and open the Plans tab at the top of your screen. Within your EOP, you will see a section titled “Drill and Training Reports.” To add a report, simply choose “Add a Drill Report,” “Add a Training Report,” or “Add a Crisis Report.” Additionally, you have the option to view any reports or mandatory training resources. 

If you are in Alabama, this article may be helpful.

Why is the drill/training that I conducted not a choice in the dropdown menu?

If you are unable to find the specific drill/training that you conducted, it most likely means that it is not required for your state.

Why won’t my Skills-Survey submissions populate?

To review your Skills Survey, you must first locate the Assess tab at the top of your screen within the nSide Platform. Once you have opened Assess, you will find a tab at the top of your screen labeled “Skills Survey Management.” Any Skills Survey submissions that you have made will be located here. If you have a submission missing, make sure that you have fully completed the form and correctly submitted it. It is also possible that it could have been placed in the wrong school. In addition to the Skills Survey Management, you must also fill out the Staff Skills Survey and Inventory within your Emergency Operations Plan. For additional instructions, check out our Member Profile article!

How do I submit a bug?

If you notice a bug within the nSide Platform, let us know! On the landing page of your nSide profile, you can find a button on the lower right-hand side of the screen labeled “Report a Bug.” Simply provide your email address and a brief explanation of what you are experiencing. Once you have submitted it, our team will work as quickly as possible to resolve the issue.

You can also click on the exclamation point icon in other parts of the platform to report a bug. For more information, read our article Reporting a Bug.

Why are my maps incorrect?

Incorrect maps may mean that a user error has occurred or that there is a lack of information regarding mapping/floor plans. Have there been any changes on campus? Have you sent us updated floor plans recently? Whatever the case, reach out to us so that we can figure out how to get your maps up-to-date!

It may also be something you can easily correct! If there have been changes on campus, read our recent use case on Building Changes. If there are points or features that need to be edited or added, check out Editing Features.

For any additional questions or support, contact us at help@nside.io, 1.800.604.1822, or LiveChat on our website!

For any additional information or instructions, visit our nSide|Community!

March 9, 2023
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Blog Banner Updating Maps (1)
February 9, 2023

How updating your maps can boost school safety

The nSide platform is designed to help create safer learning environments for schools. It is built around the idea that in the event of an emergency, seconds matter. Organizing all the tools that go into emergency planning in one platform is what makes response time quick and efficient. When we look at the big picture, however, it is important to point out that in order for the platform to perform the way it was designed to in those seconds, consistent day-to-day use and maintenance is critical. For that reason, any time there is a change on your campus, your nSide maps should be updated.

There will inevitably be times when your school buildings will undergo maintenance, new construction, or have new utilities added. In each of these situations, there are steps you can follow to make sure your nSide map stays up-to-date. There are five main scenarios to consider:

  1. Building Maintenance
  2. New Construction
  3. New Emergency Equipment
  4. Changes in Room Information
  5. Staging Area Updates

1.Building Maintenance

There are several reasons maintenance can be an important factor in school safety. For one thing, HVAC systems can be vital to air quality control. Leaks of chemicals or unmaintained gas heating systems can lead to emergencies in themselves. Even something as simple as a roof leak can lead to disastrous effects if combined with a room full of electronics. 

Whenever there is significant maintenance completed in a building on your campus, there may be information that needs to be updated in your nSide map. Things like HVAC systems, water main shut-offs, and emergency equipment should all be labeled on your map. When you click on the icons that indicate the location of these systems, there is a menu that pops up on the left where you can keep track of maintenance and update information if any parts or units are replaced. 

2.New Construction

Another building change to consider is new construction. Schools often get new additions, whether it is a new classroom building, a new sports facility, or even a new parking lot. 

Each new addition to a campus has the potential to affect the Emergency Operations Plan, and there will be many safety considerations that need to be documented. 

Whenever there is new construction of any kind on campus, this will require an updated set of floor plans. In order to add new construction to the nSide map, you will need to send nSide a copy of the new floor plans at help@nside.io.

Once nSide has a copy of the new floor plans, they can add the new structure(s) to your nSide map and add any relevant emergency equipment, HVAC, or camera details. Notify nSide at help@nside.io of any new construction so that we can keep your maps as updated and accurate as possible.

3. New Emergency Equipment

Whenever a new utility, camera, or piece of emergency equipment is added to your campus, these also need to be added to your map. Knowing where emergency equipment is located can save seconds or even minutes in an emergency situation. On a relatively large campus, most faculty and staff members will not automatically know where these things are located. Having these details accessible on the map makes it easier for your faculty and staff to navigate a difficult situation.

Examples of emergency equipment include, but are not limited to: 

  • AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator): for use when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest
  • Emergency Eye Wash (usually in science labs or near cleaning chemicals)
  • Emergency Lighting Equipment
  • Emergency Phones
  • EpiPens
  • Fire Alarms
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Fire Pull Stations
  • Fire Department Connections (or hydrants)
  • First Aid Boxes
  • Key Boxes or Key Cards
  • Roof Access
  • Security Alarm Panels
  • Panic Buttons

4. Changes in Room Information

In addition to physical structure changes on campus, there are also often personnel changes, as well as rearranging of rooms and departments to different parts of campus. While nothing has changed your floor plans in these situations, it is still important to note these changes on your map. 

When there is a personnel change on campus, editing that information in the map is simple but vital. For example, if there is a new teacher in a room, you can simply click on the room in the map and change the name and any other information associated with that teacher. The reason this is important is because in an emergency situation, people like emergency responders may be looking at your map to check locations of certain students, faculty, or staff who may have been affected. If that information is not updated, then a chain of communication is broken, and time may be wasted searching for the correct information.

When we say, “Seconds Matter,” this is one example of how seconds can be wasted in a simple administrative error. Updating your maps takes minimal time and effort, but it saves precious time in an emergency situation.

5. Staging Area Updates

The last change we will discuss is staging areas. Staging areas should be easily accessible and the routes to reach those areas clearly marked on the map. Whenever there are changes to a school’s floor plans or campus arrangement, staging areas could also be inadvertently affected. For example, if a new fence or barrier is constructed between a classroom building and a football field which serves as a staging area, then the evacuation route may be blocked. These small changes can lead to confusion in the event of an emergency. While the staging area may not have changed technically, the route to reach it did. This creates a need for a change on your map.

Whatever changes need to be made to your nSide map, we are always here to help! Please reach out to help@nside.io or use our Live Chat to get assistance with updating your map.  For a step-by-step guide on how to update your maps, check out our Knowledge Base article!

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February 9, 2023
0
Blog Banner Severe Weather
January 19, 2023

Severe Weather and the nSide Platform

Ask anyone in the South what to do when the tornado sirens ring out, and they could probably recite a list of procedures to go through: Get inside or underground, go to the bottom floor of the building (a basement if possible), get away from all windows, and go to the centermost part of the building. Most of us have heard the warnings all of our lives, and school faculty and staff are no exception. We know the drills, and we know the procedures by heart. So when it comes to improving safety plans and procedures for severe weather, we sometimes get stuck on our own script. 

The nSide platform is the ideal planning tool to make sure severe weather plans are organized in advance for before, during, and after the event. There are many features within the platform that can help make implementation of severe weather plans as efficient as possible.

We know the drills, and we know the procedures by heart. So when it comes to improving safety plans and procedures for severe weather, we sometimes get stuck on our own script. 

BEFORE

Severe weather plans are often included as a section of a school’s Emergency Operations Plans. These are often standard plans that are primarily designed for response to an immediate threat. However, there are many things that can be done before a threat exists that could greatly enhance not only response time, but also prevention of injury and efficient recovery from any damage.   

  • 360 photos: As part of the mapping process, nSide team members take 360 photos inside and outside of your campuses. These photos can be used by first responders to locate specific locations on the map. However, it can also be used as crucial before photos in the context of potential damage to any structures. 
  • Map school safety zones: Sometimes safety zones on campus are limited to space available, such as hallways and bathrooms during a tornado warning. It is important to investigate further to make sure safety zones are identified and vetted before severe weather hits. Partnering with local first responders or fire departments may help with this task. Along with hazards from high winds, severe weather can often come with flash flooding. It is important to verify that the safety zone is not also a flood zone. In addition to safety zones on campus, don’t forget to consider safety zones for buses that are on the road. When editing your nSide map, make sure to mark these safety zones in case of a weather emergency. 
  • Communication: Planning methods of communication before an emergency will prevent confusion and panic during an event. Mass communication apps, including nSide|Lockdown, should be kept up-to-date and tested regularly. In case of power outage or other logistical issues with mass communication, each hallway or building should have wireless radios and weather radios available, as well as a designated emergency coordinator to use these tools.
  • Update maps and contacts: It is essential to update your nSide map anytime there is a personnel change or change to campus structures or features. During a severe weather emergency, providing first responders with accurate teacher and classroom information as well as contact information for your safety team is extra important. This can only be done if your maps and school information  are updated regularly.
  • Update your EOP: Like the map, your EOP must be updated regularly in the nSide platform. This ensures that all the latest emergency plans and documents are easily accessible to the appropriate staff members. 
  • Drills: The number and types of severe weather drills you will conduct on campus will depend on your geographic location and state requirements. However, the more often an emergency plan can be practiced, the better a real emergency is likely to be handled. With every drill that is conducted on campus, don’t forget to log those drills in the nSide platform for your records. It is also important to note any issues that arise during drills or potential changes that may need to be made. Communicate with your faculty and staff what went well and what needs to be improved with each drill conducted.

DURING

The warning has been issued. A severe weather event is now imminent. This is when all priorities shift to simply staying safe. Teachers and students will move to their safety zones, and communication should become the top priority of administrators. During a severe weather situation, there are a few things you can do on the nSide platform to ensure a smooth response.

  • Implement your EOP: Have your EOP documents pulled up on the nSide platform so that you can assist anyone who needs information about where to go or what to do. Use your nSide map to direct administrators or other support staff to locations that may have limited communication or simply need extra support in an emergency. Make sure you have a plan in place to communicate emergency plans with any substitute teachers or guests on campus. 
  • Monitor campus cameras to identify any issues: With nSide|Live, you can pull up your video wall on the platform to scan the campus to make sure there are no students or staff who are not in a safe location. If you are able to carry a mobile device with you to a safe location, nSide|Live can allow you to view multiple locations at once to see any safety issues in real time to keep first responders updated if they need to be called.
  • Communicate with Faculty and Staff: Although nSide|Lockdown is primarily used as a lockdown notification for active shooter, fire, or medical situations, it can also be used as a mass communication tool for authorized users. For more information on how to use nSide|Lockdown for mass communication purposes, please visit https://nside.io/lockdown-app/ or contact help@nside.io. 

AFTER

After the severe weather event has passed, assess the campus for damage before any students are released from their safety zones. If there is damage or injury, first responders should be called, and the following can be done to help in the recovery process. 

  • Assess the damage: Using your nSide map, direct available administrators and staff to different locations around campus to assess any damage, potential injuries, or safety concerns. If issues are found, keep your map open for first responders to use in recovery efforts. 
  • Reunification: If there is significant damage, you will need to implement the reunification plan in your EOP. It helps to have reunification zones marked clearly on your nSide map so that staff can help direct students and guardians to the correct locations as quickly and safely as possible.
  • Recovery and Reassessment: Once everyone is safe, then recovery can begin. If structures have suffered damage, have your 360 photos available for insurance and reporting purposes. Take time to discuss the severe weather event with your faculty and staff: What worked well? What needs to be changed in the future? What can be done to improve emergency plans? Reassess your EOP and document any changes in the nSide platform.
  • Reassure your school community: Having all your maps, drills, documents, and assessments in one place provides a quick way to reassure your community that you are doing everything you can to keep students safe. 

Contact us today to make sure you are ready for the next severe weather event! You can reach out to help@nside.io or use our live chat!

January 19, 2023
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Blog-Cover-Graphic-630-1
July 1, 2022

Questions Parents Need to Ask about School Safety

Planning for the coming school year is in full swing in administration offices across the country. Do you know what plans are in place for your child’s safety?

Helping your child with their homework and making sure they have the necessary tools that they need to succeed can go a long way toward supporting their education. However, it is also important to have a seat at the table when it comes to decision-making that will directly affect their safety. As a parent, knowing exactly what questions to ask when it comes to school safety is crucial. As a starting point, here are 5 questions to consider asking your local administrators: 

  1. Does my school have a current and up-to-date school safety policy?

Your school’s safety and security policy should involve an emergency operations plan (EOP) and a general security plan. Unless you have proper policies and procedures in place, it is impossible to implement security technology and other security measures effectively. Effective policies and procedures alone can help mitigate risks. Reach out to your school principal or district administration to learn more about your school’s safety policies.

  1. Is my school investing in additional physical security measures?

When it comes to safety, preparedness is key. Ideally, every school should implement a visitor check-in/out system and secure all points of access to the campus, including parking lots, playgrounds, and field areas around the school. In addition, all schools should have some kind of visual surveillance system in place. Whether this is cameras on the outside of the buildings to see who is entering and exiting or cameras in every classroom, that will depend on the size of the school and the specific security concerns at each school. Another question to ask is whether classrooms are easily and quickly secured so that there are as few obstacles as possible to ensure classroom security in the event of a lockdown.

  1. How will I be notified in case of an emergency?

In any emergency situation, clear and timely communication is crucial. Many schools have a notification system in place that sends out text messages, emails, and phone calls to parents in an emergency. If you are unclear about how your child’s school will notify you in the event of an emergency, contact your school principal or administration office for clarification. 

  1. What type of student mental health support services are available?

Undoubtedly, students suffering from mental health issues can pose a danger to themselves and others, making it vital for schools to provide counseling services to students in need. School, second only to family, is the most important developmental environment in the lives of young people. Reach out to your local school counselor to discuss available mental health resources and how your student can access them when necessary. 

  1. How can I help?

You are the best advocate for your child! Find out what plans the school has in place for emergencies. You can also request that information and training sessions be offered. Volunteer to help organize a safety forum or open meeting for parents onsite. This would give parents and guardians the opportunity to learn from and speak with administrators, local law enforcement, and mental health professionals. 

Here at nSide, we understand how overwhelming this topic of discussion can be. As a company, we take a personal approach to creating safer learning environments for all students and teachers. We offer a variety of options for security and prevention to make planning easier for schools and districts. For more information on how we can help keep your schools safe, explore our website at nside.io or contact us today at help@nside.io. 

July 1, 2022
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Increasing School Safety
May 24, 2022

Increasing School Safety Over the Summer

Summer is making its welcome arrival and as the busyness of the school year dies down, school administrators and others who work in school communities can shift their focus to improving their school environment for students returning in the fall. Utilizing the time you have available during the summer months to focus on your Emergency Operations Plan and emergency preparedness can make a tremendous difference when the routine of the school year kicks back into gear. Not only can you take this time to update your EOP, you can also use this opportunity to familiarize, train, and educate school personnel on how they can help.

Updating Your EOP

Making plans to keep students and staff safe, schools play a crucial role in taking preventative and protective measures that can save valuable moments when the unthinkable happens. This means each should dedicate time to ensuring that the information in their Emergency Operations Plan is up-to-date and that everyone in the school community knows exactly how to execute these plans in an emergency. The nSide Platform makes Emergency Operations Plans easily accessible, allows you to digitally record your emergency operations plan, and keeps you informed on what needs to be updated, what is in progress, and what has been completed. 

Staff Training/Workshops

Everyone involved in your Emergency Operations Plan should be aware of their roles and responsibilities before, during, and after an emergency. With students out for summer break, dedicating time to training and familiarizing school personnel with your specific plan will ensure that everyone involved has all the information needed to respond to emergencies. Here are a few key training components you could provide: 

  • Hold a meeting with your staff to educate, familiarize, and discuss any updates to your EOP
  • Visit your evacuation, reunification, media, and first aid sites to help your team members feel more confident in their ability to assist in an emergency
  • Post key information throughout the building(s), such as evacuation routes, shelter-in-place procedures/locations, etc. 
  • Provide proper training for your staff on the necessary skills needed to fulfill their roles

You may also consider practicing your plan. This can include:

  • Tabletop exercises: small-group discussions that walk through a scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during, and after an emergency
  • Drills: school personnel and community partners (e.g., first responders and local emergency management staff) use the school grounds and buildings to practice responding to a scenario

While planning and preparing are essential parts of any emergency operation, practicing is key to understanding pain points and identifying inefficiencies in your plan. nSide’s subject matter experts are skilled in conducting these types of training and helping your team enhance its emergency response and save lives. 

Enhance Community Relationships

There are many things administrators can do to make their schools safe, but reaching out to local emergency responders and other community agencies and including them in emergency planning can make a huge difference. Collaboration among these partners is essential to ensure that schools can mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies. While many schools have already established these partnerships, enhancing them is never a bad idea.

nSide partners can allow their local agencies access to their platform by submitting a  Memorandum of Understanding (or MOU). This is a letter of agreement that describes each agency’s roles and responsibilities and permits them to access the school’s information. Working with local law enforcement can also include implementing a School Resource Officer position, a specialized officer whose sole focus is the safety of the campus and students.  

Implement Multidisciplinary Team

Research shows that perpetrators of targeted acts of violence tend to engage in both covert and overt behaviors preceding their attacks. Implementing a multidisciplinary team approach can aid in overall behavioral assessment and intervention to identify students in need and get them the resources they need. This team serves as a central convening body, so that warning signs observed by multiple people are not considered isolated incidents when they may represent escalating behavior that is a serious concern. Your multidisciplinary team should include representatives from a wide range of school personnel, such as:

  • Principals
  • Counselors
  • School Resource Officers
  • Teachers
  • Other appropriate personnel

When the right people on your team come together to identify students exhibiting behavior that indicates an underlying need or issue, the root cause can be detected and the child will be able to receive appropriate and adequate care. 

Update Safety Infrastructure 

In addition to an emergency response plan, having the necessary infrastructure will ensure the effectiveness of that plan. Having the proper equipment in place and utilizing technology will aid in the efforts you have laid out in your emergency planning to prevent and respond to emergency situations.  Some things you can put in place to boost your safety infrastructure are:

  • Cameras
  • Access control systems 
  • Fleet tracking technology
  • Cell signal boost
  • Emergency notification systems 

Attend School Safety Conferences 

Another way to build your emergency planning and response knowledge is to attend school safety conferences. Throughout the summer, conferences are held nationwide to encourage and prepare educators. These conferences are great educational opportunities where you can learn best practices, meet experts in the school safety field, and learn about new technologies and solutions that can help you execute safety improvements. 

How Can We Help?

To keep schools truly safe, it is critical that a good plan is in place for emergencies and that each member of the school community knows what their role is in the event of an emergency. There are many moving parts when it comes to safety and the most important thing is that those parts are well oiled and synchronized. Otherwise, you are left with a fragmented system. 

The nSide Platform is designed to integrate your school’s infrastructure, assets, and resources in one place that can be accessed quickly and easily. There are five key mission areas in school safety: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Everything we offer is centered around connecting your school community to make reactions quick and directions clear. We work to help you create an environment that saves lives and feels safe so learning can flourish.

May 24, 2022
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September 16, 2021

Reduce Fragmentation and Increase School Security

WHAT IS FRAGMENTATION IN SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS?
In order to keep schools truly safe, not only is it critical that a school have a good plan in place for emergencies, but also that each member of the school community knows what their role is in the event of an emergency and they are able to easily access and manage the technology needed to prevent or end an emergency. Schools often have different pieces of the puzzle to approach school safety, but rarely do the pieces talk to each other. This is a fragmented safety plan. Each piece of a fragmented safety plan requires different skill sets, and often different people are in charge of different components. Maybe your school’s safety plan is written in a document, maps are posted around the school, and cameras are managed through a server that only one person has access to.

WHY IS FRAGMENTATION BAD?
You might have cameras, door locks, and communication systems, but are they all accessed separately? Does one communicate with another? When the unthinkable happens, every second counts. Using fragmented safety solutions can cost you critical moments that can mean the difference between life and death. According to an Inc. Article, “The problem now is the proliferation of these enterprise apps. These tools hold all the data that grows a business, but the more apps used, the harder it is to read that data, let alone make it actionable.”

WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO UNIFY YOUR SCHOOL’S SAFETY ASSETS?

  • Communication is key! Making sure all stakeholders are in the same room when putting together the emergency operation plan. Ensuring that everyone understand their role and knows what to do in the event of any type of situation.
  • Standardize your district’s EOP. Do all schools follow the same guidelines? Can more than one person answer a question related to your EOP or school safety assets? Is there a standard for mapping your facility and emergency equipment? Can you see your cameras in conjunction with your school’s floor plan? These are great questions to get started in unifying your school’s safety assets.

HOW CAN NSIDE HELP REDUCE FRAGMENTATION?
The nSide platform is designed integrate your school’s infrastructure, assets and resources in one place that can be accessed quickly and easily. We use this connected technology to bring together everyone in your school community including administrators, SROs, transportation managers, teachers, students, law enforcement and EMS and make sure they understand what to do in the event of an emergency. Everything we offer is centered around connecting these groups to make reactions quick and directions clear. We work to help you create an environment that not only saves lives, but also creates an environment that feels safe so learning can flourish.

The nSide Platform and Suite of technologies helps keep all school safety initiatives in one place.

When all technology is in one place, good things happen.

  • Help arrives faster
  • Everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency
  • Less time is spent scrambling in an emergency
  • Lives are saved

Email us at help@nside.io and we can help you find the right solutions for your school and organize all of your schools safety needs in one place!

September 16, 2021
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July 14, 2021

How Alabama Schools Can Prepare for their EOP Monitoring

Alabama Schools Must Have Updated Emergency Operations Plans

Emergency planning is essential to the safety of students and staff in Alabama schools. Each year, starting July 1st, Alabama schools are required to re-enter their emergency operations plans into the nSide platform. School districts in Alabama are required to make sure their Emergency Operations Plan is updated and fully compliant with the state mandate.

New Emergency Operations Plans are Required July 1st

On July 1st each year, the existing EOPs for the previous school year become void and need to be re-entered into the nSide platform. This means that each school will be responsible for making sure the information in the EOP is up to date and everyone in the school community knows exactly how to execute these plans in the event of an emergency. Taking the time to make sure your EOPs are ready to go can save valuable moments that can very literally mean the difference between life and death when the unthinkable happens.

What should all Alabama School Emergency Operations Plans Contain?

Each Alabama Emergency Operations Plan contains a myriad of directives that need to be completed to not only satisfy a government requirement, but also make your school safer. As per Alabama rules, each EOP needs to contain the following items:

  • Introduction & Statement of Commitment
    • Statement of Commitment
  • EOP Core Planning Team   
    • School EOP Core Planning Team
    • School Comprehensive Emergency Telephone Listing
  • NIMS & ICS  
    • Staff Skills Survey & Inventory
    • Incident Command System Roles
  • List of Materials 
    • List of Materials and Equipment
    • Basic Resources Needed
  • Hazard-Specific Annexes 
    • Identification of Hazards (School Grounds)
    • Identification of Hazards (Classroom)
    • Identification of Hazards (Along Evacuation Routes)
    • Identification of Hazards (Neighborhood and Communities)
    • Analysis of Identified Hazards
  • Functional Annexes   
    • General Emergency Procedures
  • Drill & Training Reports

nSide Makes Alabama EOPs Easy

All public schools in Alabama are registered nSide users. If you are an nSide user,  you can easily check to see if your school’s EOP is compliant or not, or check in with our live chat and our team can run a report that analyzes your EOP in comparison with Alabama requirements. Our platform is set up to check your compliance automatically and let you know areas that need improvement. We can also help you digitally collect all information from everyone involved in the safety process, making the process of updating your EOPs quick and easy. If you’re unsure of how to better format your EOPs, or if you’re one of the schools that is due for compliance monitoring in the 2021-2022 school year, we can help you get everything prepared.

Watch this video to see how to properly update your Alabama School EOP

We can help make your school’s EOP easier and more effective! Call us today to find out how!

1.800.604.1822

July 14, 2021
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