Emergency School Information
PARENT & GUARDIAN INFORMATION
If an emergency or disaster situation ever arises while your child is in school, we want you to be aware that our schools have made preparations to respond effectively.
Newton Public School District has an emergency plan that has been formulated to respond to large or small emergencies. This plan has been developed to ensure the safety and protection of all students.
None of us likes to dwell on emergency situations. However, we believe that planning ahead will help alleviate additional stress and concern. Please be assured that our staff is trained to respond to emergencies in a calm, professional, and reassuring manner.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
Please DO NOT telephone the School or District Offices. Our telephone lines may be needed for an emergency communication with police, fire, and other emergency personnel.
Please DO NOT come to the schools until requested. During an emergency, access to the school must be kept clear for emergency vehicles. By “self- responding” to the school you may jeopardize the safety of your child.
If your child has a cell phone, please do not call their phone or have them call you. Communication from your child can be alarming and conflicting. Unconfirmed information then becomes widespread, which causes panic. It is better left to the officials to report on the situation.
Impress upon your child the need for them to follow the directions of any school personnel in times of an emergency.
In the event our students are evacuated to an off-site location and we have received permission to dismiss them, we will release students to parents or persons you have specified on the emergency release form. Please be patient at the release location as security will be tightened up and release procedures will require parents, guardians, or designated contacts to have proper identification. The reunification location will be announced through email text and phone call, local media, social media, and on the district website. Reunification locations are not published as a safety precaution.
The information on this page was updated Jan. 2020.
It is important that we have up- to-date contact information in order to reach you regarding your child. You may view and update your information in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or by contacting your child’s school.
HOW WILL YOU RECEIVE EMERGENCY SCHOOL INFORMATION?
We have three ways of notifying you of school emergencies:
USD 373 sends alerts and other messages via text or voice to your phone, and/or a message to your primary email address (work or home). Parents are automatically signed up for mass notifications when students are enrolled each year. Please contact your child’s school with any questions about parent notifications.
For any emergency situation, tune to KSN-TV, KAKE-TV, KWCH-TV or KFDI-radio.
In addition, a banner will run across the home page of the district website at www.usd373.org. We will also have updates on social media.
Keeping each student safe and
feeling secure at school is important to USD 373 Newton Public School District!
ABOUT THE USD 373 EOP
The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for USD 373 was developed in conjunction with Kansas Safe and Secure Schools and local responders. We express our thanks to the Newton Police Department, Newton Fire Department, Harvey County Sheriff’s Office, and Harvey County Emergency Management.
Portions of the Emergency Operations Plan that have been released to the public are available on the district website.
CONTACT US
Mr. Fred Van Ranken, Superintendent
McKinley Administrative Center
308 E. 1st Street
Newton, KS
Email: Mr. Fred Van Ranken Phone: 316-284-6206
Fax: 316-284-6207