As the new school year starts at Hastings High School, there has been a new update to the emergency protocols, specifically those regarding evacuation. In accordance with the New York State evacuation regulations, the HHS administration updated the protocols to standardize the emergency response protocols and to ensure clear communication concerning individual responsibilities in the event of an emergency. The new plans detail the responsibilities of every teacher. Now, teachers must carry out a red evacuation folder with the class roster and assembly card, organize themselves at the Burke Estate with their classes alphabetically, take attendance, and then hold up a card to indicate their progress (red when students are missing, green when all students are present, and “med” when they require medical assistance). This differs from the old protocol, where students stood scattered around the Burke Estate freely instead of with their teacher and classmates.
These new procedures have been created for several reasons, including the recent chemical spill evacuation. Concerns arose from students, parents, and staff after this evacuation, in which the school evacuated to the Burke Estate, where they remained for nearly two hours before walking down to Reynolds field to be dismissed. Many students noted that during this event, there was inconsistent information provided by staff to students, causing confusion. One sophomore at HHS, who prefers to remain anonymous, stated, “I do wish that they had better communication…it was kind of unfair to the students to not understand what was going on.” For staff and students alike, while the chemical spill evacuation was a fairly positive experience, it did showcase the need for clearer procedures to prevent chaos and promote transparent communication.
According to Mr. Clayman, the HHS principal, the new drills focus primarily on maintaining control in emergency situations, which is necessary when evacuating a large student body. In terms of the difference between the old and the new procedures, Mr. Clayman notes, “Our previous evacuation procedures really focused on getting everyone out of the building as fast as possible, and [the new evacuation procedures] put emphasis on really being able to account for the whereabouts of every individual.” He also stated that the new approach will hopefully ensure clearer communication across staff and students.
The students at HHS have a lot to say about the new protocols. Most express support for the new protocols, saying they think that they will be more effective and efficient. However, some say that they feel like the procedures are unnecessary or unrealistic for high schoolers, or that they probably won’t change anything. In regard to the new procedures, one freshman commented, “We have to line up with our classes now, so it’s similar to FMS.” Similarly, other interviewed students feel that although they understand the need for the new protocols, they wish students were given more freedom after attendance is taken.
As for the administration, the high school staff anticipates that the new procedures will help to maintain control during an emergency situation, but only if the students themselves follow the rules, listen to their teachers, and remain calm and cooperative in events like these. As Mr. Clayman states, “I hope that they take [the new procedures] seriously.” According to both staff and students, everyone in the school must comply with the new protocols during drills so that they can be prepared if a real emergency were to occur.