Since 9-11 and the war in Iraq, the phrase homeland security has taken on a whole new meaning. No longer is homeland security a concern just for national leaders or an ideal debated during election seasons. The job of protecting American soil has become local and personal.
To encourage citizen participation in the job of homeland security, this past year the federal government instituted the State Homeland Security Grant Program Part II. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to state and local first responders for costs associated with increased homeland security. Schools are considered critical infrastructure by the federal government, thereby qualifying for these grants.
The ultimate goal of the security funding is to assist schools in preparing to respond to incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) weapons. The money is being organized through the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management Division, Homeland Security Section.
Oxford Area Community Schools applied for the program in December of 2003 and began participating this past January.
‘We’re very pleased to have received the grant,? said Edie Paradowski, communications director for Oxford Schools and grant coordinator. ‘It covers costs the district would normally have to pay for. This will also help us have a freshly updated response to all kinds of incidents, like the CBRNE.?
Each of the district’s eight buildings (including Crossroads for Youth) qualifies for up to $2,200 in reimbursed costs, for a total of $17,600. In order to receive the funding, the district must complete the following elements:
n A vulnerability assessment for each building including items such as vehicle and pedestrian access; mail delivery procedures; food supply; water supply; building ventilation, heating and cooling; chemical storage; communication ability; and transportation/evacuation procedures. This will also take into account a building’s vicinity to large target concerns such as railroads, nuclear power plants, airports and expressways.
n An updated school safety response plan for all individual buildings and district-wide.
n A CBRNE training exercise, either acted out or as a table top exercise, focusing upon any number of incidents.
n An exercise evaluation and needs assessment.
‘We will have to involve local police and fire officials in these steps,? said Paradowski. ‘We are already in the process of updating our safety response plan. I have a small committee that has been assisting me with this.?
In addition, Paradowski said the committee has created a ‘School Safety Response Guide,? or a portable emergency response guide that ‘will be at everyone’s fingertips.? The brochure is a flip chart that provides response instructions to incidents such as aircraft disaster, hostage situations, bomb or telephone threats, demonstrations, or the death/suicide of a student or staff member.
‘We’ll try to pick a CBRNE exercise that makes sense for us to hold,? elaborated Paradowski. ‘A good thing about this exercise is that even if one of these events is unlikely, other events can happen, and we’ll be able to benefit from the lessons we learn by conducting this exercise.?
Reimbursement’s allowed under the program include costs related to planning and running the CBRNE exercise (such as office supplies, rental space for the exercise and refreshments for those participating), as well as the cost of a grant coordinator and training for that individual.
To assist in balancing the 2004-2005 fiscal budget, a portion of Paradowski’s salary is being covered with the grant reimbursement money due to her position as coordinator. The Oxford Schools Board of Education was presented with a budget proposal that reduces Paradowski to half time, or .5 fte, but provides another .2 fte through the grant.
Paradowski said she does not expect to hold the ‘table top? CBRNE exercise until the fall. The event will involve several district administrators, as well as many local agencies. The four program elements must be completed and submitted by December 31 for the reimbursement funds.
Paradowski said the government will then be taking the program one step further. A new grant program will offer school districts the opportunity to purchase any necessary equipment or training found to be lacking during the CBRNE exercise.
‘We will be able to submit requests for our top three priorities in equipment and our top three priorities in training,? explained Paradowski. ‘Our CBRNE table top exercise assessment and evaluation will help us in determining what those needs are.?
‘I think that our actual threat level for one of these incidents is very low,? added Paradowski, ‘but like I said, the lessons we can learn are invaluable.?