In accordance with the amended Code of Virginia § 22.1-279.8 titled: "School safety audits and school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plans," effective July 1, 2007, local school boards are required to annually review the written school crisis, emergency management, and medical emergency response plans [of each school it supervises]. The Superintendent shall certify that review in writing to the Virginia Center for School Safety (VCSS) no later than August 31 of each year. The amended Code also provides that the local school board shall have the authority to withhold or limit the review of any security plans and specific vulnerability assessment components as provided in § 2.2-3705.2.

§ 22.1-279.8 of the Code also includes the requirement for developed written crisis plans, the role of this Department and the VCSS, and safety audit information. The specific language of § 22.1-279.8 may be accessed by opening the following link in your browser: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+CHAP0044.

The review, update, and enhancement of school crisis plans are vital to the safety and security of Virginia’s public schools.

Superintendents

Per the Superintendent's Memo 96 dated April, 18, 2008, upon your school board’s annual review of crisis plans, and prior to the August 31, 2008 deadline:

• Access the Survey Manager;
• Supply the username and password as provided to you in the VCSS letter dated May 7, 2008;
• Select the first button "School Crisis Plan Certification Process;" and
• Provide your initials or those of the individual acknowledging the completion process and select "Submit Certification."

More Information

For more information, please contact Donna Bowman at 804.371.6506 or Melissa Leigh at 804.786.8467.