Safety & Preparedness at MUSD
We are prepared
In Manteca Unified, the safety of our students is always our top priority. As a District, we understand the need to have a trusting relationship with parents and support providers, especially during a school emergency. With the partnership of local law enforcement agencies and fire departments, MUSD has an emergency plan in place that outlines preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery to keep students and staff safe and the community informed.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MODEL
Our district aligns with the four key phases of the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) model: preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery. Our safety plans emphasize proactive training, effective communication, and strong recovery protocols to ensure that students and staff are well-prepared for any emergency situation.
How & When we communicate
We use many communication tools to reach our community, especially during emergencies. Below is a quick reference guide on when to anticipate communication from MUSD or your school site.
Below are our general guidelines when deciding how and when to communicate about a school emergency. However, every emergency situation is unique, so there may be times when we communicate differently.
How You'll Be Notified
When You'll be notified
Many different safety situations may impact students, ranging from low impact to high impact. During these situations, our first and immediate priority must be addressing the incident as quickly as possible to prevent additional safety risks.
It is very important to understand that you will only be notified when a safety situation may impact you. If you are a parent, this means you will be contacted if a situation may impact or has impacted your child.
Low-Impact Incident
These incidents pose little to no risk to student safety and do not disrupt regular school activities. Typically, they are isolated events affecting only one student or a small group of students.
Example: A minor disturbance or altercation.
Notification Response: Parents of the student(s) involved will be notified.
Moderate-Impact Incident
Moderate-impact incidents present a moderate risk and may cause some disruption to school activities.
Example: Campus is temporarily secured due to police activity in the area.
Notification Response: Notifications will be sent via email or text by the end of the school day.
High-Impact Incident
High-impact incidents pose a significant risk to student safety, resulting in major disruptions such as lockdowns or evacuations.
Example: A gas leak leads to a school evacuation.
Notification Response:
- Messages will be communicated as quickly as possible via phone.
- If necessary, MUSD will provide updates through social media and press releases to inform the wider community.
During a serious emergency, we will communicate following the guidelines listed above while not compromising the efficiency of emergency response on campus. During such emergencies, we urge you to avoid coming to the school until you are notified of a reunification location or that a lockdown situation has been resolved. All personnel and resources will be directed to maintain campus safety.
Safety is a collective responsibility. By partnering with us through these phases—Preparedness, Prevention, Response, and Recovery—we can create a safer community for our children together.