Tanque Verde Unified School District #13 2300N. Tanque Verde Loop Rd., Bldg. 1
Tucson, Arizona 85749

Phone: 520.749.5751▪ Fax: 520.749.5400 ▪ www.tanqueverdeschools.org

February 15, 2018

Dear Tanque Verde Unified School District Parents/Guardians and Community,

It continues to be of critical importance to the Tanque Verde Unified School District (TVUSD) and the District Governing Board to prioritize and focus on emergency response planning, preparedness and training in our schools. Student and staff safety are of the highest priority.

We work closely with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD), the PCSD School Resource Officer Unit, Rural Metro Fire Department, ICSAVE and other public safety organizations, in an effort to provide resources and training to our staff, students and school community. Unfortunately, this has become a necessary element of school emergency response planning, due to the reality of the increasing numbers of tragedies that have occurred throughout Arizona and the nation in recent months and years.

In addition to conducting regular emergency drills with students at each of our schools, the District and schools have undertaken the following measures to ensure emergency preparedness:

	All members of School Emergency Response Teams completed three certifications from the FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) Training Courses for schools in past 12-15 months;
	Detailed emergency response plans for all schools and district were updated, and plans were reviewed by PCSD, Rural Metro FD, and Pima County Office of Emergency Mgmt. - Aug.-Jan. 2017/18;
	Active Shooter Training conducted for all staff in past 12 months;
	Members of counseling staff and school administration attended suicide prevention and grief training - Jan./Feb. 2018;
	Stop the Bleed Training scheduled for all staff - Mar./Apr. 2018;
	Reviewed and assessed Parent Reunification Plans for all Schools - Feb. 2018; 	Classroom Emergency Kits provided to all District classrooms;
	Principals and members of District Emergency Response Team (DERT) attended LEAST Training with Jesus Villahermosa - Feb. 2018;
	Active participation in Southern Arizona School Safety Consortium - 2015-2018;
      Awarded grant for DERT to attend the FEMA National Training Center’s Multi-Hazard Emergency Response Planning for Schools Course in Emmitsburg, MD in July, 2018;
	Governing Board signed onto AZ Mutual Aid Compact - Feb. 2016 (2nd district to sign in So. AZ).

Should any student or guardian have knowledge or concerns regarding a potential threat to student, staff or school safety, it is imperative that the student and/or guardians immediately bring that information to the attention of the school administration.

All such threats and information are taken seriously. We work closely in cooperation with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the PCSD School Resource Officer Unit to investigate any instances in which student, staff or school safety are concerned.

Emergency preparedness is an ongoing process which involves performing periodic reviews, updating procedures, and conducting ongoing training and drills. We take this responsibility seriously. We value and appreciate the support of our local first responders and public safety agencies, as we continue our efforts to maintain safe schools for our students, staff and school community.

Respectfully,

Scott Hagerman, Ed.D Superintendent
Tanque Verde Unified School District

District Administration: Dr. Scott Hagerman, Superintendent; Adam Hamm, Business Manager Governing Board: Susan Fry, President; Jeremy Schalk, Clerk; Members: Steven Auslander, Jeffrey Neff, Carlos Ruiz