PA public school fire drills

[lititzman2003]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

If they are having drills without students present and then documenting that those drills are done with students they're violating a bunch of laws and standards. Since 9/11 the requirements across the board have been tightened up nationally and some entities, public and private, have been hammered for playing games.

Unfortunately, the way the current Code is written here any public school can conduct a Fire Drill without any students present. I plan on contacting our Senators or anyone else who will listen and act on changing this completely ridiculous law.

[LibraGirl123]

Originally Posted by lititzman2003

Does anyone know the requirements of a Fire drill conducted in the Pennsylvania Public school systems? Does a school receive credit for a fire drill if the students are off that day and it's just the teachers in the building?
Thanks.

Just curious...can I assume that you are aware of a situation where this is actually happening?

I did some checking online and found this:

Emergency Evacuation Drill Requirements

[SIZE=2]By or approximate to April 10 each year, each chief school administrator shall certify to the Department of Education that these emergency evacuation drills have been held by submitting the PDE-4101 form below.

The first paragraph of the form referenced above reads as follows:

Section 15-1517 of the Public School Code of 1949 requires all public schools (school districts,
charter schools, area vocational-technical schools and intermediate units) to conduct fire drills
not less than once a month. In such fire drills, pupils and teachers shall be instructed in, and
made thoroughly familiar with, the use of the fire escapes, appliances and exits. The drill shall
include the complete removal of pupils and teachers, in an expeditious and orderly manner, by
means of fire escapes and exits from the building to a place of safety on the ground outside.
Schools not required by law to maintain fire escapes, fire extinguishers and fire exits are exempt
from the requirement to conduct fire drills.

[/SIZE]

[lititzman2003]

Originally Posted by LibraGirl123

Just curious...can I assume that you are aware of a situation where this is actually happening?

I did some checking online and found this:

Emergency Evacuation Drill Requirements

The first paragraph of the form referenced above reads as follows:

[/SIZE]

I do know that in March, the principal of a school near Harrisburg conducted a Fire Drill on an in-service day for the teachers. No students were present that day. The next month he conducted another Fire Drill on a day he knew an entire grade would be out on a field trip.