4.3.04 PEN

School districts across the state will develop safety plans consistent with the federal government’s National Incident Management System to ensure that all first responders at all schools know what to do in emergencies.  SB08-181, sponsored by Representative Tom Massey(R) and Senator Tom Wiens(R), addresses many of the problems confronted by Columbine and Platte Canyon High School staff when those schools faced extreme situations including murder of school children.

National Incident Management System

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) establishes a platform for emergency response that government agencies across the country use to ensure, as Representative Massey stated, “that all first responders are on the same page in these situations.”  NIMS includes training, education, communication processes, equipment, and personnel.  The system focuses on preparing fire, police, and emergency medical personnel for their roles in school emergencies.  It also will support school staff training to provide the ultimate first responders, the people in schools, with the tools they need for effective emergency management.

How will schools implement the program?

The bill allows schools up to ten years to get all their staffs trained and to develop their plans in concert with fire, police, and emergency medical teams.  According to Dale McCall of the Colorado BOCES Association, rural schools will particularly benefit from the process.  “At first I was against this bill because I didn’t know how rural schools could ever achieve compliance.  But this bill will help these schools move forward on these issues.  I see the bill as a resource for rural school districts.”

Peg Ackerman of the County Sheriffs of Colorado reiterated that “it’s very important that everyone operate from the same system.  Sheriffs want everyone to operate from the same guidebook.”

Initial controversy over compliance timeline

The bill initially faced problems because school districts were concerned that they could not comply with NIMS and other requirements.  But according  to Representative Massey, the bill will enable school districts to garner grants and other financial support to fulfill the bill’s goals.  “Community colleges can provide courses for NIMS,” said Massey, and federal Homeland Security grants will be easier to get because of the bill’s support for consistent emergency measures.  Amendments to the original bill enabled small, underfunded school districts to support the bill.

The bill received unanimous approval from the House Education Committee and will move to Appropriations.

Tags: Colorado school security, colorado state house education committee, colorado state legislature, NIMS for schools, sb08-181, school emergency response

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