District Communication in an Emergency

When there is an emergency, depending on the nature of the crisis and the resources available (i.e. phones, Internet), the District may communicate with one or more of the following methods:
 

• School Messenger – A message system for parents and staff. Messages may be phone calls, emails, and/or text messages. Parents and staff automatically receive these messages unless they have opted out of the program. If you want to receive emergency messages, please do not opt out of the program. During a crisis, the District will not have time to add those who have opted out back into the system.   

PARENTS: Please update your phone numbers and email addresses with your school when they change so that the district has your most up-to-date information in order to notify you of an emergency.

• District Website – www.bville.org - The District will post emergency information and updates as the crisis evolves in the news section of the District’s homepage.
• Social Media – The District has a presence on Facebook and Twitter (@BCSDBEES) and will post emergency information and updates on these pages. You must like the District’s Facebook page and follow the District on Twitter in order to receive these posts.  
• Local Media – The District will provide timely updates to local television stations, radio stations, and newspapers for their broadcasts, publications, websites and social media sites.

In its communications, the District may provide any or all of the following information as it becomes available, depending on the nature of the emergency:

• What happened?
• Where and when did it happen?
• Who is in charge?
• Who was involved? Only general information will be provided. No specific names will be provided if a law enforcement investigation is involved and due to privacy reasons for students and staff members.
• How is the District responding?
• Has the situation been contained?
• Are students and staff safe? Is everyone accounted for?
• Are victims being treated and where?
• Information on dismissal, transportation, sheltering, and where and when parents may pick up students.
• Where to go for more information as it becomes available.

Depending on the crisis and the resources available (i.e. phones, Internet), the District may communicate with one or more methods. These same methods of communication will be used for post-crisis information.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT YOUR CHILD DURING AN EMERGENCY. Contacting your child may slow down the school’s efforts to get all students to safety if your child is not paying attention to instructions. Also, a ringing or vibrating cell phone, or a student talking, even in a whisper, may indicate to an intruder where your child and others are hiding.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOLS FOR INFORMATION DURING AN EMERGENCY. In an emergency, staff members will be busy dealing with the safety of students and will not be able to answer the phones. For information during a crisis, please check the District's sources of communication.