Legislative Requirements
Act 29 of 2023 establishes the requirement that all public and approved or recognized independent schools shall adopt and maintain an all-hazards emergency operations plan for each school site that is at least as comprehensive as the template maintained by the Vermont School Safety Center. The plan shall be reviewed and updated on an annual basis, in collaboration with local emergency first responders and local emergency management officials. For further questions, please contact Taylor Goodwin (taylor.goodwin@vermont.gov).
Template All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan
Title 16 requires the Vermont School Safety Center (VSSC) to maintain a template All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). While the use of the template is not required, the amended statute provides that each All-Hazards EOP must be at least as comprehensive as the template maintained by the Vermont School Safety Center.
All-Hazards Emergency Operations Planning Guide
This guide is designed to support public Supervisory Unions and Supervisory District (SU/SD) and Independent School development of an All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
Emergency Management Partner Contact Information
The AOE and Vermont School Safety Center encourage schools to establish working relationships with local emergency management partners to develop and maintain a school EOP. Please see the links below for contact information for emergency management partners in Vermont.
Emergency Management Director (EMD) Public Contact Information
Supplemental Resources
EOP Office Hours
The Vermont School Safety Center hosts a monthly EOP Office Hour meeting on the third Thursday of each month from 12pm-1pm. Meetings will include opportunities for school safety partners to obtain guidance in developing and maintaining EOPs, development of priority all-hazards annexes, presentations from school safety experts, and more. Please see the VSSC website for more information or the EOP Office Hours meeting link to join.
(Video) EOP Webinar for Vermont Independent Schools, March 19, 2024
(Slide Deck) EOP Webinar for Vermont Independent Schools, March 19, 2024
(Video) AOE/Health Department Heat Preparedness Webinar - The Vermont Department of Health, in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Education, discuss relevant information for keeping Vermont students and children safe during extreme heat events.
(Side Deck) Preparing for Hot Weather in Vermont Schools (Vermont Department of Health)
Preparing for Hot Weather at Schools and Child Cares (Vermont Department of Health)