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Approved District Safety Plan 2024-25
Wantagh UFSD
District Safety Team Members
2024-25
John C. McNamara Superintendent of Schools
Anthony Cedrone Assistant Superintendent for Business
Stephen Moran Assistant Superintendent for PPS
Stephanie Scolieri Executive Director for Human Resources
Carol-Ann Winans Executive Director for Cur. and Inst. K-12
Paul Guzzone WHS Principal
Chris Widmann WHS Assistant Principal
Nick Pappas WHS Assistant Principal
Anthony Ciuffo WMS Principal
Rachel Quattrocchi WMS Assistant Principal
Randee Bonagura WES Principal
Rachel Ianuzzi WES Assistant Principal
Tara Cassidy Board of Education President
Tom Fucci Director of Facilities
Tracey Hiscock Maintenance Supervisor II
Ron Schneider Lead Security Guard
Hildi Dzigas Lead Nurse
Rich Colavita President WUT
Robert Humphreys President Wantagh CSEA
Officer Kevin Glenn NCPD Homeland Security
Chrissy Rothhaupt PTA Council Co-President
Laura Graci PTA Council Co-President
TBD WHS Student Government
TBD WHS Student Government
The Wantagh School District is committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff, families, and visitors.
Our district's Safety Committee coordinates our Emergency Response Plans, working closely with emergency responders and public health officials to ensure we are well prepared. Each school also conducts multiple emergency drills throughout the year including fire and lockdown drills.
The Wantagh Union Free School District has established a District-Wide School Safety Plan (which is posted on our website www.wantaghschools.org) and a Building-Level Emergency Response Plan for each School Building in the District. The Building-Level Emergency Response Plan is a confidential document which cannot be shared with the public. Each of these plans is coordinated with police, fire, and other officials in the county and state-wide agencies.
WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL SECURITY PROCEDURES?
All doors that lead to the outside are locked when school is in session. In order to enter the building, the parent/visitor may only enter through the main entrance and must obtain a visitor’s pass. Any unauthorized person on school property will be reported to the school Principal or designee. Unauthorized persons will be asked to leave. School personnel are required to wear photo ID badges for identification purposes. Children are instructed to look for these ID badges. Visitors are required to wear a temporary badge which indicates an individual is an authorized visitor. Students at the secondary are required to wear student ID badges. High School students will scan in and out of the building using their ID cards.
HOW WILL THE SCHOOL RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY?
The Superintendent of Schools or Designee may implement one of the following emergency response procedures:
WHAT KIND OF EMERGENCIES DOES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S EMERGENCY PLAN ADDRESS?
ARE THERE EMERGENCY PLANNING DRILLS?
Yes, New York State regulations require school districts to test their emergency plans in each school building through exercises and drills. All exercises and drills are conducted in a trauma-informed, developmentally and age-appropriate manner. Parents will be informed of drills or emergency response training that involves students. For an emergency dismissal drill, parents/guardians will be informed of the drill at least one week in advance, without specific details, to ensure safety. At the time of the drill students and staff shall be informed that the activities being conducted are a drill.
SHOULD I PICK UP MY CHILD AT SCHOOL DURING AN EMERGENCY?
Not unless directed to do so. While every parent’s natural instinct in an emergency is to go to the school to protect his/her own child, it is important to realize that doing so may significantly affect the District’s ability to respond to the situation. For example, cars driving up to the building will restrict access by emergency vehicles that are responding to the emergency, or school buses that are loading children to evacuate them or take them home. The building’s staff will be actively working to ensure the safety of all students. It may seem logical that every student taken home by a parent reduces the responsibility of the staff, but in a fast-moving situation that requires a great deal of careful coordination and communication, it makes the critical task of keeping track of students more difficult.
HOW WILL PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND STUDENTS BE REUNITED?
In the event of an emergency, the school district has a specific Parent-Student Reunification Plan. An area will be designated for parents to pick up students. Photo identification must be shown in order for a student to be brought to the reunification area.
WHAT PROVISIONS ARE MADE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES?
Every school building has a plan of action to evacuate any student with special needs.
WHERE CAN I GET INFORMATION DURING AN EMERGENCY?
Chances are that you will have difficulty reaching the school by phone when you try. The school will be making every effort to contact you through automated calling systems and our website. The schools have every child’s emergency contact information that they have readily available for emergencies. Other sources of information include the PTA Presidents. School officials may utilize the parent organizations to activate their phone chains. TV News 12 and local media will also be utilized.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PLAN AHEAD?
The two most important things you can do are: