Dear Parents and Friends,

 

Please know that we take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the students and staff in our schools. Each Commack school has emergency plans that encompass any urgent situation that may arise. Each building principal heads an emergency response team and has developed a course of action for every contingency. A permanent Internal Security Review Committee meets regularly to review District safety and emergency procedures.

 

When an emergency arises, we take very specific actions to respond to a variety of situations. The acronym S.H.E.L.L. is used to clearly identify the different types of responses used by schools throughout New York State. Using these specific responses and specific language provides students, staff, parents, law enforcement officials, and community residents with a common language to understand what is happening and how we are responding. Please click here to understand S.H.E.L.L.

responses.

 

Practice makes perfect, and every school conducts practice drills. Sheltering drills, fire drills, bus drills, and go-home-early drills are necessary so that everyone will know what to do should a real situation occur. Our principals, teachers, and staff are trained to conduct these practice events in a calm and reassuring manner.

 

We are committed to protecting the safety of the children in our care. It is important to talk with our children about safety issues, and review personal safety practices with them. Please consider using the safety tips here as a conversation starter.

 

In order to be fully prepared in the event we need to contact you, we need your help. It is very important that your child’s school office receive current contact numbers (home, work, cell phones) in case of an early dismissal or emergency situation. You can update that information very easily by logging into the Parent Portal and clicking "More" and then "Family Information."  As always, up-to-the-minute information will be posted on the Commack School District website www.commackschools.org if an emergency arises, as well as notification through both our Email Notification System, and parent calling/texting/email system. Please make it a priority to update your contact information.

 

Commack Middle School has been designated as a shelter by the Red Cross in the event of an emergency.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your child's emotional health, please feel free to contact your school's psychologists, social workers, or counselors. We have a dedicated team of professionals ready and willing to assist you. Do not hesitate to contact your child’s building principal or school nurse should you have questions about our emergency preparedness.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Dr. Jordan Cox

Superintendent of Schools

The District continues to engage its own security staff in partnership with the Suffolk County Police Department to ensure the safety of all. Our partnership with Suffolk County police extends beyond emergency circumstances. Officers often visit Commack schools for class presentations, routine updates about the community, and to provide support for students-in-need. Therefore, the presence of police on campus does not always indicate a potential concern. As a result of this partnership, Commack has been able to grow their preventative and reactive safety protections.

 

We continually review and evaluate the physical and digital school-security measures in our District. These protections include:

 

The District urges all students, faculty, staff, parents and community members to speak up and voice concerns. One of the biggest ways to help is “If you see something, say something!” You can use our anonymous alert system at https://www.anonymousalerts.com/commackufsd/  or call our security team at 631-858-3611 (this number is manned 24/7) or the main switchboard at 631-912-2000 (during school hours). Working together can all help keep each other safe.  

Aside from physical safety, the District has many security measures to ensure safety using technology devices. Students are not permitted to access sites that have been deemed dangerous. Students are diligently monitored by school staff while using technology devices and are reminded of responsible internet use habits. We encourage our families to review the following safety rules with children at home as well:

Please be assured that we will continue to be vigilant regarding the safety of our children.