Special Education

Appendix 5 - Alternate Programs

Due to the unique composition of students in some alternate programs, and the different organization and/or location of alternate education centres, districts may want to develop a separate critical incident response protocol for these programs.

Some districts have a large population of "at risk" or vulnerable students in alternate programs. Because of the nature of these students, the plan should take into consideration the need to maintain close contact between students and staff who have built trusting relationships with them. It may also be important to minimize contact with outside personnel and persons from the community. These considerations should be discussed during the development of the critical incident protocol.

Step 1 - Contact the principal

The alternate program staff person who first becomes aware of the critical incident contacts the principal responsible for the program, and the principal then contacts the District Critical Incidence Leader. Staff should keep a list of key telephone numbers at home and at the program site for quick reference. One staff member at each site should be the designated leader of critical incident responses.

Step 2 - Gathering the facts

The Principal will confirm the event with appropriate personnel, including the immediate family, police, coroner, school district personnel, and/or community resource personnel.

This information will shared with the program staff, the District Critical Incident Team Leader, the designated media contact person.

Step 3 - Communication with staff

The alternate program teacher will inform the other staff as soon as details are available from the Principal. After consultation with the site staff, the Principal may delegate the district resource person to assist with some of the following steps.

Step 4 - Talk with students

The same general principles apply here as in a regular school, with the added caution that many students in an alternate site may be particularly vulnerable to a traumatic event.

Step 5 - Action Plan

The alternate program staff, with the assistance of the principal and district staff can organize an action plan. The following outline is suggested as a guide.

Administrative Tasks

• Inform feeder schools and other relevant elementary and secondary schools.
• Ensure adjoining programs are informed.
• Inform community resource personnel and arrange for support as needed.
• Prepare information letters for parents and arrange distribution.
• Ensure district media person (Superintendent or designate) has information and refer all media inquiries.

Practical Tasks

• Prepare set script to use for answering telephone calls.
• Provide space for counselling or other needed functions.
• Plan response to visitors arriving at the program site.
• Hold staff meeting to review events at the end of the school day and plan for the next day.
• Keep district level staff informed and access support services and advice as needed (for example, access to counsellors or mental health workers).

Counselling Tasks

• Ensure that professional counselling in addition to support by alternate program staff is available if needed by students and staff.
• Identify and focus interventions on students most at risk.
• Ensure students have a list of emergency numbers they can use for out of school hours.
• Keep a counselling presence in the program site until after there is closure to the critical incident (for example, a funeral service).
• Ensure that students are prepared for attendance if they plan to go to the funeral.

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