Parent Guide for School Emergencies

Champaign Central High School

Working with local law enforcement and emergency service agencies, the staff of Central High School has developed an emergency plan for the school to safeguard your child. Providing for the safety of 1300 students and over 100 staff members is a complex process. All of us have special roles to play. We want you to know what we plan to do in an emergency, and we want you to know how you can help us should such an event occur.

Please read this information carefully, and keep this brochure somewhere safe at home.

If there is a problem at Central, what should I do?

1. Do not come to the school. If we have a serious problem here, law enforcement agencies will block the streets near the school so that emergency services have access. They will not allow you to enter the area. Do not call the school. In an emergency, we will need the phone lines open.Remain at home until you hear instructions from us. Make sure someone is available at your home telephone or work number. If we have injuries, we will be trying to contact you. If you feel you must come, go to the Virginia Theater downtown. It is Central’s official parent center during emergencies. The Virginia is located in the 200 block of West Park Street between Randolph and State Streets. Tune in to WDWS AM1400. They have graciously agreed to be our official radio station in an emergency. We will make announcements and give instructions through them. Do not call the radio station for information.

Will I be able to pick up my child?

1. If we must evacuate the school, our staff will meet you at the Virginia Theater. From there, we will issue further instructions and let you know from where and when you may pick up your student. We will release students to parents after we have checked attendance and accounted for students who were in school that day. Anyone who picks up a student will have to produce identification and sign the school’s student release form. Again, do not come to the school. Drive downtown to the Virginia Theater from the north or the south keeping clear of the area around Central. Look for our staff. Those in charge will be wearing bright orange vests. We will establish a contact point for parents.If we do not evacuate the school, we will release students as soon as it is safe to do so. It is important for you to listen to WDWS for information. Do not come to the school until you hear our instructions on WDWS.

When will I find out what has happened?

1. We will give instructions through WDWS while the emergency exists. Please understand that during an emergency our first concern is for the safety of students and staff. We will provide information about the problem after everyone is safe and the problem is under control. Listen to WDWS for news from us. This will take some time, as our staff must follow the instructions of law enforcement agencies and emergency services agencies when they are at the school.
2. Depending upon the problem, it may take us some time to sort through what has happened. We will explain only after we understand the situation. We will confirm what we know before we make any statements because we do not want to mislead anyone about an emergency situation. You will have to be patient with us.

Thank You

We know that your child is the most important person in the world to you. Because of that, we know that it will be hard for you to do what we ask. Please realize that we take your child’s safety very seriously. In an emergency, what you do can either help or hinder the efforts of law enforcement, emergency services, and our staff as we work to protect Central’s children. In all likelihood, we will never need our emergency plan, but having it makes Champaign Central High School a better and safer place for your child to be. We appreciate your support.