RUNNING HEADER: ADVERSE SITUATIONS

Adverse Situations

Jennifer Amato

Grand Canyon University

EAD – 536

Dr. Michael Schlabra

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Management and Operational Systems

When handling emergencies in a school setting, it is important to be as well informed as

possible and to act in a timely matter. In this situation, with the malfunctioning air conditioner

in a Phoenix, Arizona school, the rising temperature outdoors and in classrooms and the time

of the day could create a dangerous learning and working environment. Heat related illnesses,

such as heat stroke, heat exhaustions, rhabdomyolysis, and heat cramps are not only

uncomfortable but can be extremely dangerous (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

2022). As the principal the first step in addressing the situation would be to reach out to the

district to have the air conditioning evaluated and a repair timeline assessed. Using that

information, I could begin planning to provide fans for classrooms and hand out water and

communicate with the community about the incident in the school. If the weather shows that

temperatures will continue to climb and the air conditioning unit cannot be repaired in a timely

matter, plans must be made to contact families and start an early release protocol.

Human, Fiscal, and Technological Resources

According to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) standard nine,

it is the school leader’s responsibility to ensure resources are used to create a safe working and

learning environment (National Policy Board for Educational Administration, 2015). A situation

such as this requires a creative use of resources. Depending on the actual state of the air

conditioning unit, it may be necessary for a noninstructional staff member to use school funds

to purchase items like fans or portable swamp coolers to attempt to create safer environments

in classrooms. It might also be necessary to combine a couple of classes in a common space

where we could use coolers to service a larger area. The same staff members may also need to

buy cases of water for students without personal water bottles to ensure they are hydrated in
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the warmer than usual conditions. Staff members who are not working directly with students

would circulate to aid classes, monitor the wellbeing of students and teachers, and distribute

resources as needed. As a principal, I would be among those aiding students and staff. The

office would continue to monitor the weather, temperatures, and the status of the air

conditioner.

If the school would need to close until repairs are made, transportation services and the

security team would need to be on hand to ensure students safely make their way home. The

principal and district communication department would contact families to inform them of the

situation and the decision to close the school for student and staff safety.

Safety and Welfare of Students and Staff

When students are within school walls, the school acts in loco parentis or “in place of

parents” (Cornell Law School, 2023). Therefore, it is the school’s responsibility to ensure the

wellbeing of all students. All decisions the school makes must be made to protect the students’

wellbeing, regardless of the impact on schedules or resources. The National Incident

Management System (NIMS) guidelines and presidential directive promote the preparedness of

schools and districts to handle the plethora of incidents that may occur within a school (U.S.

Department of Homeland Security, 2023). Though it is a federal program, it includes local and

state-wide plans to assist schools prepare and respond to incidents such as the one this Phoenix

school is facing. The Aurora Public School district in Aurora, Colorado created and Incident

Response Team (IRT) that follows the NIMS guidelines that will step in to ensure schools and

districts are compliant with mandates during times of crisis (Aurora Public Schools, 2023).
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Collaboration with Faculty and Community

It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. In this situation, it will take the

community to ensure students and staff remain safe. As principal I would rely on my staff to

keep me informed on everyone’s wellbeing. I would rely on my office staff to update me on

the status of the weather, building temperature, repairs, and to communicate with families. I

would also rely on the district communication services, transportation department, and district

security to keep me connected to the community, ensure we are safe, and schedule midday bus

runs as necessary. The leadership team and my supervisors would be a vital part of this

scenario. As a team we would have created the school expectations, planned schedules,

coached educators, and hired teachers, I would also lean on them to help ensure I make a

decision that is best for our school. This will also help ensure that I do not create a plan based

purely on emotion but that I consider all the facts before we act. Due to the uncomfortable

learning environment and the potential impact on people with health concerns or disabilities, I

would allow parents to pick up their children early without penalizing their attendance records.

Solution and Rationale

My solution in this situation would be dictated by the ease and timeliness of repairs to

the air conditioning. Should the repairs be simple, I would use school funds to find ways to

temporarily cool classrooms to a reasonable temperature and continue to monitor the wellbeing

of my students and staff. However, should the unit require more than an hour or so to repair, I

would begin making arrangements to have students return home until our school was able to

maintain a safe temperature within the classrooms. Communication with the district would be a

first step in both scenarios. The resources and guidelines the district teams will be invaluable in

ensuring that everyone is as safe as possible in this situation. Neglecting to act promptly could
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lead to violations of in loco parentis, federal mandates, and PSEL standards. It would turn a

negative spot light on the school and could endanger the wellbeing of those of whom we are

charged to care for.

References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 13). Heat Stress – Heat Related Illness.

Retrieved from The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html

Cornell Law School. (2023, January). Legal Information Institute. Retrieved from Cornell Law

School: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/in_loco_parentis

National Policy Board for Educational Administration. (2015). Professional Standards for

Educational Leaders. Retrieved from National Policy Board for Educational

Administration: https://www.npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Professional-

Standards-for-Educational-Leaders_2015.pdf

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2023, October 5). National Preparedness. Retrieved

from FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness