Safety Procedures

The safety of our students, staff, and patrons is our foremost concern as we actively implement our asbestos management procedures. Our written Management Plan lists projects of priority for asbestos abatement. Since the time the plan was submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in May of 1989, abatement projects have occurred in accordance with this plan.

By law all employees, teachers and parent organizations of the school corporation must be notified yearly of all asbestos activities and of the availability of the school management plan.

During the summers of 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, Warsaw Community Schools contracted and completed triennial asbestos reinspection. Certified building inspectors visited each building to inspect for suspect material.

In order to determine whether the suspect material contained asbestos, samples were submitted for laboratory analysis in accordance with AHERA regulations. Some of the material tested was found to contain more than 1% asbestos. Only materials containing more than 1% asbestos are regulated by law. The majority of these positive samples came from certain types of floor tile and ceiling tile. Floor tiles are only of concern when they are removed from the building. Floor tiles do not release any fibers during normal use. These materials are not releasing asbestos into occupied areas.

We are working closely with environmental professionals to ensure and maintain necessary precautionary measures for safe conditions within your school. Every six months, periodic surveillance is conducted on all materials that have tested positive or are assumed to be positive for asbestos. The condition is checked, and repairs made wherever necessary, to ensure that safe conditions are maintained. This is done in accordance with AHERA regulations.

Each facility that has asbestos-containing material has an inspection report and Management Plan on file in the main office. The complete list of all facilities is on file at the Maintenance Office, and is available for review to the public during regular office hours.

If you have any questions regarding the survey or the Management Plan, please contact the Director of Maintenance, Buildings & Grounds at 574-269-1796.

This notice is to inform you that our School District is taking proactive measure to increase security and safety in our District. Metal detectors may be utilized at Warsaw Community Schools. All students and visitors may be required to submit to a metal detector scan.

When the detector indicates that a student or visitor is carrying a metal device, the student or visitor and their belongings will be searched to ensure that they are safe to enter our campus. We are choosing to use every tool available to help us provide a safe and secure learning environment for our students, visitor, and our staff.

Please note that this security measure does not imply that any school in our district is unsafe.

Warsaw Community Schools is committed to providing students a safe environment. It seeks to prevent children from being exposed to pests and pesticides.

While pesticides protect children from pests that may be found in the school and its surrounding grounds, under some circumstances they may pose a hazard to children. Therefore, pest control practices may involve a variety of chemical and non‑chemical methods that are designed to control pests effectively while minimizing potential pesticide exposure to children.

This policy does not apply to the following pesticides: (1) When used in normal cleaning activities: germ killers, disinfectants, sanitizing agents, water purifiers and swimming pool chemicals; (2) personal insect repellents when self-applied; and (3) gel baits or manufactured enclosed insecticides when used where students and staff members do not have access to the insecticides.

Pesticides will be applied by certified pesticide applicators and only when students and staff members are not present, such as during non-instructional time or during school vacation periods. In the case of an emergency pesticide application because of immediate threat to public health, the school shall give written notice as soon as possible.

The corporation will:

• Inform annually parents and staff members of the corporation's pest control policy at the time of student registration.
• Provide the name and phone number of the person to contact for information regarding pest control. To be provided with a notice of pesticide application, contact the Director of Maintenance, Buildings and Grounds at 574-269- 1796.
• Establish a registry of parents and staff members who want to receive advance notice of all pesticide use and provide such notice. To be placed on the registry, please contact WCS Maintenance office at 574-269-1796.
• Provide notice of planned pesticide applications to parents and employees who have requested advance notice.
• Provide notice of all pesticide applications to school nurses.
• Maintain written record for at least 90 days of any pesticide applications.

Unannounced safety drills will be held frequently to familiarize students with the procedures necessary to relocate in safer areas of the building in case of a tornado warning, or to evacuate the building in case of fire, or earthquake. The prescribed procedures and routes for relocation and evacuation are posted on the bulletin board in each classroom.

Students should learn both types of routes from each of their classrooms. When a fire alarm sounds or a tornado drill is announced, students should move quickly and quietly to their designated areas. Running and talking will not be permitted. Students must remain in their designated areas until further instructions are given.

(Policy #5514) The school makes every effort to encourage sound safety practices. Students are instructed to obey traffic laws and the directions of the teachers, safety patrol members, crossing guards, and bus drivers. Additionally, there are schools that are not located in safe bicycling areas due to high traffic, and bicycle riding to and from school is not permitted. In schools where bicycles are permitted, they must be walked at all times on school property. Skateboards, roller blades, or scooters are not permitted at school. Shoes with wheels in them, or that attach to them, are also not permitted. Children in grades K-1-2 and 3 are NOT to ride their bicycles to school. Students are reminded that the privilege of riding their bicycles to school may be denied if they do not observe good safety practices and those regulations governing the use of bicycles. Wearing a protective helmet when riding a bicycle to school is a recommended safety practice. All bikes shall be parked in the rack provided and remain there during the day. For your own protection, it is recommended that bikes be locked.

In accordance with Indiana State law and school board policy, each school in Warsaw Community Schools has developed a crisis plan to deal with emergency situations that may arise from time to time.

Safety drills and Safety procedures related to environmental and manmade events are practiced throughout the year.The crisis plan is reviewed and updated on an annual basis by members of the building and district crisis teams.

Our goal in this endeavor is to provide safe, secure schools that facilitate excellence in education. Any questions regarding your school’s crisis plan should be directed to the principal.

Safety is a top priority at Warsaw Community Schools. We are constantly reviewing and revising our readiness plans, upgrading our security technology, improving our training and enhancing our crisis procedures. Through the combined efforts of our staff and local law enforcement with the support of our parents and community, Warsaw Community Schools will remain a safe and secure educational environment.

A 24-hour Safe Schools Hotline, 1-833-300-STOP, is in place to enable the confidential reporting of information about potential or actual dangers to students and staff. The Hotline does not have caller ID.