Vashon Island School District has developed an emergency response plan to ensure your child's safety while in school or on a school bus. This plan outlines specific responses that schools will take in the event of an emergency situation such as an evacuation or a lock-down. Staff members have assigned roles and duties that are detailed in the plan. The district has conducted drills for responding to a number of potential emergencies in conjunction with the King County Police Department, Vashon Island Fire and Rescue and Vashon Be Prepared.

If an emergency occurs during school hours, classroom teachers will provide students with appropriate instructions. Additionally, school officials may provide students with instructions or information about the emergency through the school public address system. Each month, students practice for emergency situations such as fire, earthquake or intruder and are very familiar with school emergency responses.

If an emergency occurs during school hours please do not come to the school in order to enable first responders have free and clear access to the campus. In rushing to the school, you may put yourself in danger and become a part of the problem. Instead, we ask you to be patient and follow updates that will be posted on the district website, emailed to our contact list and through text alerts.

A modified lockdown takes similar precautions but allows more movement within the building. Students may continue to work at their desks with lights on. They may go to the restroom. No one, however, may enter or leave the building including staff, students and parents. In the event of a lock down parents are asked to not come to school.

Parent-child reunion sites are as follows:

• Chautauqua Elementary and McMurray Middle School: Vashon Island Community Church located at 9318 SW Cemetery Road (directly across the street from the entrance to school campus).
• Vashon Island High School: LDS Church at 9330 SW 204th Street (About 1/8 mile East of the high school campus on the North side of 204th).

Children will be released to individuals who are authorized on the student's emergency care card or have prior written parent authorization. Schools will also require photo identification when the child is released at the parent-child reunion site.

We ask that commuter families arrange for their student(s) to have a designated Vashon Island contact that is authorized to pick up their child. The name and contact information for this individual needs to be in your child’s file. Please make sure this contact is current and aware of their role in the event of a school emergency.

School bus drivers are in constant radio communication with our Transportation Department. In the event that an emergency occurs while students are in transport, drivers will be notified to respond appropriately. Buses will be rerouted or may delay arrival or departure to avoid traveling toward the emergency situation such as a school lockdown. When traffic and safety conditions allow, buses may be rerouted to a parent-child reunion site (as described above).

If your child requires daily medications that are necessary for chronic or severe medical conditions such as seizures, severe asthma or allergies, parents should make sure that the school has a three day dosage of additional medication. Talk with your child's school nurse for more information.

Each month, students and staff practice “Drop, Cover and Hold” as a response to earthquake.

Drop – under something sturdy and taller than you are
Cover – the back of your head and neck with one arm
Hold on – in case the thing you’re under moves

Close your eyes – protect your eyes

• Chautauqua Elementary School: McMurray field
• McMurray Middle School: McMurray field
• Vashon Island High School: VHS stadium field

For a brochure about earthquake information: Earthquakes in Washington (printable brochure)

• FEMA Earthquake Preparedness
• Red Cross Earthquake Preparedness Information

An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide. Part of preparedness is maintaining overall good health and using basic prevention measures such as covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and washing your hands often. In the event of a pandemic flu event the District will comply with instructions issued by the King County County Health Department.