The document discusses emergency planning efforts at Hollywood Elementary School in College Park, MD. A focus group consisting of subject matter experts from the local community and University of Maryland met to help the school develop emergency plans as required by Maryland state law. The group analyzed potential hazards and created plans for various emergency situations. The plans addressed mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. The goal was to ensure the school is prepared to respond appropriately in an emergency to protect students and staff. The group recommended the school adopt the state's emergency plan and train all staff and students on proper procedures.

1. Thesis Statement
Focus groups and meetings with subject-matter experts are some
of the resources that can help College Park, MD Elementary
Schools community prepare for a disaster or an emergency.
Discussion
Maryland Department of Health and Hygiene Secretary Mitchell
(2015) stated that the "Code of Maryland Regulations
13A.02.02.01-.04 Emergency Plans sets forth the requirements
for emergency plans that shall be developed and implemented
by each of Maryland's 24 local school systems (LSS)"
(Marylandpublicschools.org 2017). The City of College Park,
Maryland utilized a focus group from UMD and subject matter
experts (local police officers, a retired EMS worker and a
retired department of defense employee) to interpret emergency
planning as a plan for Hollywood Elementary Public Schools
within College Park, MD to discuss mitigation, preparation,
response, and recovery that can help school communities during
a disaster or emergency.
On a basis, parents entrust their children's safety to schools
with the expectation that it will be of the most significant
concern to school officials. Likewise, students expect that
teachers, principals, and other school staff will protect them
from harm and instruct school personnel has an ethical
obligation to ensure appropriate responses during crises and
emergencies. (prepare.umd.edu). While in the care of Educators,
we must have a plan in case of an emergency. With the help of
the local Emergency Management Representatives and the focus
group in College Park, MD, from the University of Maryland
(prepare.umd.edu 2017), we identified Hollywood Elementary
School as one of the institutions in College Park, MD as an
understood to better define the difference between crisis
intervention and emergency planning. The group was able to

2. put in place plans; in the event, there could be an emergency or
crisis, to provide rapid and appropriate responses.
Planning for an emergency should be considered as an ongoing
active process by which schools must prepare for a variety of
distress before they happen, to reduce adverse consequences
during an emergency; a crisis, on the other hand, is a reactive
event that takes place during and after something has happened.
This type of planning increases confidence within a community
and help School students and School staff respond appropriately
during an emergency or crisis. The subject matters experts, and
the focus group decided that they would adopt in the College
Park handbook for HES the State of Maryland emergency plan
for the school. (Exhibit 1 is an Appendix D from
Marylandpublicschools.org 2017). Meeting of the minds to pass
on the importance to students and school staff of what actions
must be taken and when these actions should be considered.
Plans included serving to minimize injury and damage and make
it easier to return to normal operations once the emergency is
over (Marylandpublicschools.org 2017).
Exhibit 1 (Marylandpublicschools.org, 2017):
Lockdown
When the announcement is made:
Students should report to the nearest classroom. Close all
windows, lock our doors, and do not leave for any reason.
Cover all room and door windows.
Stay away from all doors and windows, move students to
interior walls, and drop.
Shut off lights.
BE QUIET and wait for further instructions
(Marylandpublicschools.org, 2017).
Shelter in place
When the announcement is made:
Students are to be cleared from the halls immediately.
Close and tape all windows and doors, and seal the gap between
the bottom of the door and floor.

3. Take attendance.
Do not allow anyone to leave the classroom. Emergency
bathroom use only with the buddy system.
Stay away from all doors and windows.
BE QUIET and wait for further instructions
(Marylandpublicschools.org, 2017).
Drop & Hold
When the announcement is made:
DROP – Take cover under a nearby desk or table and face away
from the window. Assist persons with disabilities as much as
possible.
COVER your eyes by leaning your face against your arms.
HOLD onto the table or desk legs.
BE QUIET and wait for further instructions
(Marylandpublicschools.org, 2017).
The goal is to have all the schools trained to have such
instructions in place should an emergency arise.
As a focus group, we uncovered that one of Maryland's public
education goals is to create and maintain safe, secure, and drug-
free school environments that are conducive to learning
(pgcps.org). Focus group and subject matter experts think that
to achieve the goal of creating a safe, secure, and drug-free
school environment, and it would be essential for HES to take
measures to be prepared to respond to a variety of emergency
and crisis situations.
Another goal is to discuss and educate HES and all local
schools in MD about the issues that can impact everyday lives
of children, families, and schools. Another goal crafted from the
tragic events of the late 1900s and early 2000s. They were the
tragic and violent 1999 Columbine High School shootings, the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the 2002 Washington, DC
area sniper shootings, and the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary
School shootings (Alexander, D. E. (2013). These school
shooting incidences tell us that states need to put together
communities like this so as to develop well-written and
rehearsed plans for emergencies, crises, and traumatic events.

4. The goal of focus groups and subject matter experts in College
Park, Maryland, is to develop an emergency plan to help schools
in developing new plans and in reviewing and updating existing
procedures, also for HES to be relevant and useful during
emergency situations. Secretary Mitchell (2015) stated
“Emergency plans cannot be placed in binders waiting to be
dusted off when a situation arises but must continuously
reviewed, updated, and exercised”. The community put together
in College Park, MD, plan is to analyze hazards at HES and
make suggestions to the Department of Education to mitigate
those hazards. The comprehensive emergency plan put together
by the focus group and the subject matter experts addressed
mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. It
should guide to accommodate, safeguard, and evacuate everyone
within the school boundary including individuals with
disabilities.
These documents should be kept necessary emergency
procedures for classroom teachers, staff, students, and visitors.
It is important to note that the emergency procedure documents
are not a replacement for a comprehensive district or school
plans. Parents of students with disabilities should be included in
the planning process and know what procedures are in place for
their child/children (pgcps.org).
Conclusion
The HES Emergency Plan document provides a model
framework to help develop roles, responsibilities, and functions
to address emergencies; therefore, relevant information should
be shared with parents to assist with implementation and
understanding of the plan and not compromising security
(www.marylandpublicschools.org). The Subject Matter Experts
and Focus Group discussed the security of the Plan must
electronically store, secure and easily accessible to Emergency
Responders and Staff. Like a fire drill, routine testing of our
plan must be exercised in an effort to ensure workability and
readiness in the event of an emergency. Staff must be given to
opportunity to review, updated and address issues.

5. The Department of Education recommends that schools for
example, Hollywood Elementary School, should personalize the
Emergency Plan to meet the individual, unique needs of each
school and the school community. The plan is related to the
extent to which the school and its district are involved in the
program, have a role, and included in the planning process.
(Alexander, D. E., 2013). Cooperation and collaboration are
effective when planning involves others in the community who
share responsibility for safety and security of our Public
Schools.
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Local Contact
April Lee
Hollywood Elementary School
Principal
Leah G.
Maryland State Department of Defense
Retired Coast Guard
Darren B.
City of College Park
Police Officer
Andrew R.
College Park Volunteer Fire Department
Emergency Medical Services Representative
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