Safe School Facilities, Equipment, and Grounds

It is the goal of the Hamden Board of Education (the “Board”) to provide facilities, grounds, equipment, and vehicles that meet accepted injury and violence prevention standards for design, installation, use, and maintenance and to establish safe employee practices in the Hamden Public Schools (the “District”).

District Safety Planning Team

The District Safety Planning Team (“DSPT”) shall be responsible for developing a District-wide all-hazards security and safety plan, as described in the Board’s School Security and Safety policy.  The DSPT will meet monthly through the school year.  Membership may include town officials, law enforcement officials, first responders, and District staff, as invited or appointed by the Superintendent.

Maintenance

The District shall conduct regular safety and hazard assessments of classrooms, buildings, school grounds, gymnasiums, playgrounds, and sports-related equipment.  The District shall require the transportation company with which it contracts to provide school-sponsored transportation to conduct regular safety assessments of buses and other vehicles used to transport students.

The District shall develop maintenance plans for classrooms, buildings, school grounds, gymnasiums, playgrounds, sports-related equipment, and buses and other vehicles used to transport students. Such plans shall include provisions for reporting maintenance needs to appropriate staff, schedules of maintenance activities, and communication of details to appropriate staff, students, and family members. Maintenance reports shall be kept on file for three years.

Supervision of Students

The District shall provide adult supervision at school-sponsored activities. At least one adult trained in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and infection control shall be available when school is in session and/or at school-sponsored activities. The District shall provide access to first aid supplies for District staff supervising District playgrounds, athletic fields, gymnasiums, science classrooms, industrial arts classrooms, and cafeterias. The District shall also inform supervising staff of relevant medical guidance on file with the school concerning limits on the participation of individual students in physical activity. Such information will be maintained as confidential in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

                                                                                                                   

Use of School Security Consultants

The District may consult with qualified school security consultants operating in Connecticut. Such consultants must be listed on the registry maintained by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and published on its website.

 

Legal Reference:      

Connecticut General Statutes

10-203          Compliance with public health statutes and regulations

          10-220          Duties of boards of education

52-557b         Good Samaritan Law.  Immunity from liability for emergency medical assistance, first aid or medication by injection. Immunity from liability re automatic external defibrillators. School personnel not required to render emergency first aid or administer medication by injection.

 

 

Policy revised:	May 13, 2025	HAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Policy approved:	January 13, 1998	Hamden, Connecticut