ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester City School District Board approved a new safety plan Thursday night during a special meeting at district headquarters on West Broad Street. This doesn’t mean the stuff included in the plan is entirely new, but could also mean it worked in the past, so the board has decided to continue with it.
The plan includes hiring and training school safety officers who are licensed by the state and receive annual training in crisis intervention and youth mental health.
Visitor access is tightly controlled with only one entry point and screening against sex offender databases before anyone can enter beyond the main office.
One thing not mentioned in the safety plan is what was voted on Aug. 18 regarding Rochester Police Department officers on school grounds.
“I know mid-year will be shifting from our PD as the option as one of the safety options to something else and so I’m wondering is that reflected? I’m seeing that the safety plans for the entire school year but I also know that the safety plan is a high-level document. So it may not even be on there at all. So just checking in on that,” Isaiah Santiago said.
Santiago is a commissioner on the RCSD Board of Education.
“My review of the safety plan, the safety plan does not have any specific references to vendors that we contract out with and when I looked at the safety plan that was approved in previous years it did not have information that referred to the RPD even though the RPD had been a part of the strategy,” Dr. Eric Jay Rosser said. Rosser is the superintendent of RCSD.
That six-month plan has officers on school campuses during arrival and dismissal. The district-wide emergency management plan was updated July 16 and is reviewed and adopted annually by the board for the 2026–27 school year. The plan is designed to guide district-wide prevention, response and recovery efforts for emergencies across RCSD schools.
RCSD will conduct 12 emergency drills each school year. Eight will be evacuation drills and four will be lockdown drills held at different times of day with some evacuation drills requiring alternate exits. The drills must be trauma-informed and age appropriate. The plan says drills cannot use actors, props or simulations intended to mimic a school shooting during regular drills. Parents and guardians are supposed to get at least seven days’ notice before a drill.
The plan outlines response procedures for threats of violence, acts of violence, weapons, active violent behavior, intruders or hostage situations, bomb threats, fights or assaults and student unrest. For serious threats, staff may involve administrators, use de-escalation, call 911 and conduct a threat assessment.
The threat assessment can consider factors such as the specificity of the threat, access to weapons, motivation and the student’s history. After an act of violence, the plan calls for 911 notification, alerting district safety officials, isolating the area and possibly initiating lockdown, secure-lockout or crime-scene procedures.
RCSD says all threats of violence are to be taken seriously and investigated. The district says it maintains relationships with emergency responders and will hold biannual safety meetings with Rochester Police and Fire.
Prevention and support measures listed in the plan include Youth Mental Health First Aid, mental health services, Mobile Mental Health, Restorative Practices, Pathways to Peace, Help Zones, crisis intervention, threat assessment through the Rochester Threat Advisory Committee and bullying reporting.
RCSD’s plan specifically addresses opioid emergencies. All health offices are equipped with nasal naloxone and school health staff and School Safety Officers have been trained in its use.
The plan also addresses extreme heat conditions. RCSD defines an extreme heat condition day as when an occupied educational or support space reaches 82 degrees or higher. Response measures may include turning off lights, using shades or blinds, using fans, opening doors or windows where appropriate and providing water breaks.
During an emergency, command may transition from the school to police, fire or EMS with unified command established when appropriate. RCSD will communicate with parents, media and emergency responders during emergencies.
Communication methods may include phone calls, robo-calls, emails and letters home. The Chief Communications Officer/Public Information Officer is responsible for coordinating information to keep it consistent, accurate and timely.
The district says detailed, school-specific emergency procedures, including floor plans and evacuation routes, are contained in confidential Building-Level Emergency Response Plans shared only with law enforcement and authorized personnel.
The contract with RPD expires in March but there is a contract provision that allows an extension if the district believes it’s needed.
RCSD board votes to approve updated school safety plan at special meeting WHEC.com.
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