12 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
With respect to reported constraints on emergency planning and preparation, over half of schools and almost three quarters of districts identified either limited time or funds. The Centralia School District agrees with this finding. If school districts had more personnel and resources, districts would be able to move forward with emergency management planning. At present, limited state funds and personnel are available.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
All but one of Orange County's twenty-eight school districts have (encapsulated) asbestos present at one or more its schools. Centralia School District disagrees wholly with this finding. Each school district keeps records on its own facilities and whether its facilities have encapsulated asbestos. We have no knowledge of the status of facilities in other school districts and, therefore, cannot verify the accuracy of the Grand Jury's findings.
R1
Those districts which have yet to identify disaster grant opportunities, especially from governmental agencies, investigate the availability of potential resources. Forming inter- district collaboratives, learning from districts in the county that have been successful, pooling resources, and asking for consultation from the Orange County Superintendent of Schools/OCDE may help in these efforts. S The Centralia School District has not received grants for emergency preparedness, however in the fut...
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
.
Each school district should request the Orange County Department of Education to devote, in the year following publication of this Grand Jury report, one or more of its monthly "all districts" meetings to discussion and advice on handling hazardous materials. Representatives from each school district should participate in these meetings, and discussions should cover, AHERA compliance, resources available for in-depth AHERA training, and contract management. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8) This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted, is not reasonable, and is vag...
F2
Six (of 17) school districts have managed to apply for and receive relatively large grants from governmental agencies to greatly enhance their emergency planning efforts, while others have not. The Centralia School District, agrees that school districts should seek grant funding. An existing federal grant program will be phasing out in 2012 and other grant programs will need to be identified. If more information were made available relative to grant and/or funding opportunities, districts could ...
Response: Disagree Partially
Score: 0
Although current EPA standards provide that encapsulated asbestos does not present an immediate hazard to people who come near it, any physical disturbance and/or weathering which damages that encapsulation and releases asbestos fibers into the air will present an immediate hazard to anyone exposed to those fibers. Hence, broadbased awareness of where encapsulated asbestos is located is essential to avoid disturbing it such that it does become a threat to students and staff. Centralia School District disagrees partially with this finding. Broad-based awareness of where encapsulated asbestos is...
R2
Districts review their plans, and the plans specific to each of their campuses, with respect to emergencies or possible disaster situations they have not anticipated. Each of our school sites has a written school safety plan submitted by March 1st of each year. The plan is reviewed each year and updated annually.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
.
Each school district should within nine months of the publication of this Grand Jury report develop and document a communications plan for parents and other stakeholders and post the plan on its web site. The plan should identify what information will be provided and by what means this communication will be accomplished. The plan should address how issues relating to hazardous materials will be communicated, and in what languages, to ensure effective communication. (F10, F11, F12) This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted and is not reasonable. The current prac...
F3
Some schools anticipate responding to only a few emergency situations (e.g., earthquake and fire), while others have developed plans to respond to over a dozen different threatening situations. The Centralia School District agrees with this finding. Our school district has developed information to include the following emergency situations in addition to earthquakes and fires: civil disturbances, Board of Trustees: Megan Harding . Lisa Jordan . Dennis Salts . Irv Trinkle . Cristi Woodward Distri...
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Many school districts are not in full compliance with the AHERA regulatory requirement to have applicable AHERA reports available in the main offices of each school for public review. Centralia School District disagrees wholly with this finding. Our District is in compliance with AHERA regulations. Our AHERA report is available for public review at our District Office and at each of our schools in compliance with AHERA regulations, 40 C.F.R. section 763.80 et seq.
R3
Districts review their level of compliance with various existing codes, regulations, and liability insurance issues that pertain to emergency preparedness in public schools. The Centralia School District has implemented this recommendation by developing a school safety plan for each of its schools and working with federal, state and local emergency management agencies. The school district has sufficient liability insurance with respect to emergency preparedness.
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
.
Each school district should within nine months of the publication of this Grand Jury report create and have a process in place to use and keep up-to-date their web site communications with parents and stakeholders of that district. (F9, F10, F10) This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted, is not reasonable and is very vague as to what type of communications are being referred to. The current practice of making the AHERA report available to the public at the district office and each school site is compliant and meets federal law. The Grand Jury's recommendation ...
F4
School districts develop plans with respect to a number of different but overlapping regulations and standards, including those required by the county, state, and the federal government. The Centralia School District agrees with this finding. School districts have developed school safety plans under Education Code. School districts are also required to comply with state and federal emergency management standards, Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and National Incident Management Sy...
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Many school districts are not in full compliance with the AHERA regulatory requirement to identify at each school in their district a "Designated Person" and to train each Designated Person to EPA-defined standards. Centralia School District disagrees wholly with this finding. Our District is in compliance with AHERA regulations and has a designated person at the District level. The AHERA regulations do not require a trained designated person at each school.
R4
Districts review their plans, and the plans specific to each of their campuses, to ascertain whether the special medical and/or prescription medication needs of all students are adequately anticipated, especially during an extended disaster situation. Centralia School District schools keep important medical information on file for students. The District encourages parents to keep an extra supply of medications in the Health Office for students in the case of an emergency or extended disaster sit...
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
.
Each school district should develop and maintain a computerized database listing all district buildings and structures and post that information in its web site. The database should contain the following for each building: date and types of construction, dates and costs of major repairs and modernization, numbers and sizes
of classrooms, lists of other facilities including offices, lounges, gyms, cafeterias, laboratories, computers and other data processing equipment, and playground equipment. (F9, F10) This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted and is not reas...
F5
Some schools reported they have not adequately anticipated the needs of students taking prescription medications, or with specialized medical needs, in the event of some emergencies, such as an extended lockdown. Schools in our District keep important medical information on file and parents (as well as staff) are encouraged to keep an extra supply of medications for students in the Health Office to utilize in the case of an emergency or extended disaster situation.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Although nearly all school districts train their facilities and maintenance staff on hazardous materials management, many fail to provide hazardous materials training $ to their teaching and administrative staff. . Centralia School District disagrees wholly with this finding. Our District has trained maintenance staff and other staff as mandated by AHERA regulations.
R5
Districts survey their campuses with respect to the needs of non- or limited-English-speaking parents and guardians, and develop outlines or summaries of critical emergency planning information in Spanish, Vietnamese, and other threshold languages prevalent in their local communities. Centralia School District has assessed campuses with respect to non or limited English speaking parents/guardians relative to this topic and has emergency planning information available in Spanish and Korean, the t...
Response: Will Not Implement
Score: -1
.
Each school district should within nine months of the publication of this Grand Jury report create a comprehensive baseline plan for school facilities construction including new construction, retirement of schools or buildings at schools, modernization, hazardous materials, abatement, and major repairs. Each effort should include estimated cost, planned funding source and status, and schedule for start and completion of work. This plan should be updated annually and posted on the district's web site. (F9, F10) This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted and is no...
F6
School districts are in communication with a variety of local and county departments, agencies, and systems to help them prepare for and respond to disasters or emergencies; not all districts access the same resources. The Centralia School District agrees different districts access different resources and it is our understanding that districts communicate in a variety of ways with first responders, local agencies, and other agencies to support matters of emergency management.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Orange County public schools are subject to very infrequent EPA inspections for AHERA compliance. Centralia School District disagrees wholly with this finding. We do not control the frequency of EPA inspections nor can we make an assessment as to whether inspections are frequent or infrequent.
F7
Few schools have plans or emergency preparation information available in languages other than English. Our District has emergency information in the following languages: English, Spanish and Korean.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Inadequately managed construction efforts at more than one Orange County public school have led to expensive and disruptive hazardous materials events. Many Orange County school districts lack one or more documented requirements for contracting for construction that implement generally recognized best practices for dealing with hazardous materials. Such written best practices include: Performing all work at schools that deals with, or potentially deals with, a. hazardous materials at times when students and staff are not present,
b. Controlling the scope of construction/modernization/major re...