The links on the referred page will take you to the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center. They have partnered with the U.S. Dept. Of Education, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide examples, templates, interactive tools, guidelines, and training materials on emergency planning for all schools.
Find contact information for ODE school emergency operations planning staff or the regional emergency operations planning representative in your area. If you have questions about the program or would like information about our resources you can email us here at ODE.SSEM@ode.oregon.gov
The link above provides resources to help plan for specific threats and hazards that should be considered in any high-quality school EOP. Now included on that page are archived copies of our monthly newsletter, the Monthly Minute. ODE's resource page--Planning for the 2023-24 School Year--is a centralized repository of guidance and resources to address challenges associated with communicable diseases.
The Wireless Panic Alarm Grant
The Wireless Panic Alarm Grant is open to School Districts that provide services to students during the regular school year. Applicants will be processed in the order they are received. Applications must be for the purchase and installation of wireless panic alert systems during the 23-25 biennium (ending June 30th, 2025). Applicants may request grant funds for every school building used by students during the school year. School Districts will be reimbursed $2,000 per school in their district.
Recipients may use the funds for the purchase and installation of wireless panic alarms. Requirements of such a system to be eligible for reimbursement:
- Wireless: panic alarm or system that can operate as a panic alarm must have a wireless activation feature such that a teacher or other staff member may be able to activate an alarm outside of a centralized location. The intent of such a system is so that a teacher or other staff member can activate an alarm immediately upon observation of an incident that requires emergency response so that both emergency responders are notified and the whole school can respond simultaneously.
- Emergency Response Notification: The panic alarm system, once activated, must be capable of notifying emergency response personnel (police and/or fire) through 911 dispatch.
- Whole School Notification: The panic alarm system must be capable of activating a school-wide alarm system or provide direct notification to the front office for the purposes of notifying the school campus of the emergency situation.
Districts that wish to apply for reimbursement or have questions about reimbursement for the purchase and installation of a wireless panic alarm system can email us here at ODE.SSEM@ode.oregon.gov to request a link for application.
Important Deadlines for the Wireless Panic Alarm Grant:
- Applications for work that has not yet been done: December 1st, 2024
- Applications for work that has already been done: April 30th, 2025
- Last day to complete work: June 30th, 2025
- Last day to submit claims in EGMS: August 15th, 2025
Notice of Request for Application From Education Service Districts
This RFA has been canceled. Please see below, under RFA and Attachments, for Addendum 1 Termination Notice.
The Oregon Department of Education is releasing a Request for Applications in order to invite qualified Applicants to apply for consideration of Award of an Oregon School Safety and Emergency Management Intergovernmental Agreement due the change from Federal funding to more sustainable State funding. The qualifications to apply are listed in Section 1.3 of the RFA.
In accordance with Section 3.1.3 of the RFA, a pre-application conference will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 12:00 PM PST. A representative from an ESD may attend the pre-application conference only if the individual(s) has/have pre-registered for the conference. Only individual(s) who have pre-registered by name may attend the conference. Substitutions are not permissible. Multiple individuals from one ESD may pre-register to attend, however, not all individuals from ESDs who have pre-registered are required to attend. Please email the Single Point of Contact (SPC) the name(s) and email address(es) of each ESD representative who will be attending the conference in order to pre-register. Details for the virtual session, including the webinar link, are posted at the bottom of this notice.
Agency is posting this RFA to the Agency website in accordance with Section 3.1.1 of the RFA, Public Notice. In addition to this RFA, all attachments and the webinar link are published on Agency website. Any Addenda to the RFA will be posted to the Agency website in accordance with the RFA. Prospective Applicants are solely responsible for checking Agency’s website to determine whether any Addenda have been issued.
A few important dates to keep in mind:
- Pre-Application Conference: February 1, 2024 12:00 PM PST
- Requests for Clarifications Due: February 6, 2024 3:00 PM PST
- Answers for Clarifications Due: February 13, 2024
- Closing: February 21, 2024 3:00 PM PST
- Anticipated Award Date: April, 2024
Dates may only be changed via Addenda posted to the Agency website. Prospective Applicants are solely responsible for checking Agency’s website to determine whether any Addenda have been issued. Agency is not responsible for issues that arise due to failure to check Agency website for posted Addenda.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns to the SPC at Lena.Baisden-Cleave@ode.oregon.gov.
RFA and Attachments: Please follow instructions in the materials below in order to apply.
Pre-Application Virtual Information Session
Meeting has concluded: Q&A document.
Upcoming Events
ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning and School Safety
What: The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) System can detect earthquakes so quickly that alerts can be delivered to schools before shaking arrives. EEW technology can be integrated into school paging systems, VOIP phones, computers, and fire alarm panels to automatically deliver pre-programmed alerts to students and teachers. By giving people time to protect themselves, ShakeAlert can save lives. More information can be found at ShakeAlert.org.
Join earthquake scientists and educators from across the country to learn how school districts are using the ShakeAlert EEW System in their facilities.
The topics will include:
- How the ShakeAlert EEW System works.
- Case studies from education partners in California, Oregon, and Washington.
- Pathways for integrating ShakeAlert EEW technology into school buildings.
When: April 24th from 11:00am to 12:30pm (virtual)
Who Should Attend: School administrators, technical implementers (ex. technology directors, safety directors, or facility directors), community emergency management personnel, other community stakeholders.
Where: Virtual. Link to the Education Workshop Flyer.
Registration and Event Information: Link to register.
Monthly Office Hours
What: The School Safety and Emergency Management team is hosting a monthly office hour to answer questions and provide technical assistance with any concern you might have about school emergency planning. If you have a simple question about a technical emergency preparedness detail--or maybe you need help overhauling your district's EOP--check in with us on the second Wednesday of every month for assistance.
When: From 8:30am to 9:30am on the second Wednesday of each month.
Who Should Attend: Any school administrator or staff member who has a question or needs assistance with their school or district's emergency preparedness.
Link to join: This is a new link for September 2023 through August 2024. For an Outlook Calendar invite, click here.