Dear Parents:

In light of the recent terrorist alert, we want to assure you that the Austin Independent School District is doing everything possible to keep all of our schools and students safe. We do not believe that any of our schools are possible terrorists targets; however, the district and every school has a School Safety and Emergency Resources Manual which guides administrators in developing site specific crisis management/ emergency plans for a variety of crisis situations. Principals and facility managers annually review and update their campus and facility emergency and crisis management plans to ensure preparedness for the full range of possible crisis and emergency situations that could arise. The district is also a member of the Austin Travis County Emergency Operations Center along with other groups which have emergency responsibilities. The Austin Travis County Emergency Operations Management Center is activated during any emergency situation.

In case of chemical or biological release, schools will implement the "Secure-In-Place" procedures. The procedures require that every child and adult seek immediate shelter inside a pre-determined location in the school. They would remain indoors until the proper authorities instruct the school otherwise. For the safety of the children, parents will not be allowed to pick up their children from school and should wait for further instructions through the news media, AISD Cable TV Channel 22, or the district website at www.austinisd.org.

To keep our children's fears to a minimum, we suggest that you as parents, can do the following:

• Help your children feel safe. Let them talk about their fears and worries. Keep family routines that help children feel comfortable and secure. Reassure them that parents, teachers, doctors, and government officials are doing everything possible to keep them safe and healthy.
• Limit children's viewing of television news. Children may be frightened, overwhelmed, or traumatized by news reports about bio-terrorism. Supervise what they watch on television. When they do watch, be sure to allow for family discussion time during and after viewing to let them air their fears and concerns.
• Arm yourself with the facts. Education is your best protection against unnecessary fear. Your children will be less fearful if they see that you are not afraid and if you spend time with them answering all of their questions in a reassuring manner.

The safety of our students and staff is our district's number one goal. We will continue to do everything possible to keep everyone safe. If you would like information about what specific procedures your child's school has in place, please contact your campus principal.

Sincerely,
Pascal D. Forgione, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools