Summer Emergency Prep: What to Revisit and Reinforce

It’s easy to think of school safety as something that ramps down when students leave for break. In fact, summer is one of the most critical windows that districts have to strengthen their emergency preparedness plans.

With fewer people on campuses, reduced daily operational pressures, and increased flexibility, summer provides an opportunity to assess, correct, and reinforce systems that may be harder to address during the school year.

Below are the key areas districts should revisit and reinforce during the summer break.

1. Reassess the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

Summer is the ideal time to take a deeper look at your district’s Emergency Operations Plan, especially ahead of the annual review cycle required under TEC §37.108.

Focus on more than surface-level updates.

Key Actions:

• Review of the Basic Plan and Annexes for alignment with current guidance from the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)
• Ensure Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) structure is clearly defined and understood
• Update contact lists, roles, and responsibilities as these change frequently, especially during the summer months
• Validate alignment with district practices, not just what’s written on paper
• Incorporate lessons learned from drills, incidents, and after-action reviews

TxSSC’s annual review window (typically early fall) comes quickly. Districts that use summer to prepare are far better positioned to avoid deficiencies and corrective action timelines.

Policy Reference: CK(Legal) CKA(Legal),and CKC(Legal)

2. Complete Facility Safety and Security Assessments

Summer is one of the few times campuses can be evaluated without disrupting instruction.

This aligns with ongoing district audit and intruder detection expectations required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the TxSSC.

Priority Areas:

• Exterior door function (latching, locking, alignment)
• Access control systems and badge functionality
• Surveillance camera coverage and retention policies
• Perimeter security (fencing, gates, lighting)
• Portable buildings and temporary structures

Reinforcement Tip:

Don’t just identify issues, document corrective actions. This documentation is critical for demonstrating compliance and progress during audits and reviews.

Policy Reference: CSA(Legal)

3. Reinforce Door Security and Daily Practices

Texas continues to emphasize closed, locked, and secure doors as a foundational safety requirement.  Although this remains a district-level decision, it is certainly the best practice for student and staff safety.

Summer provides a chance to reset expectations and fix recurring issues.

What to Address:

• Mechanical deficiencies (doors that don’t latch properly)
• Staff habits that developed during the school year
• Consistency across campuses

Practical Step:

Implement a preventative “door check” protocol:

• Test every exterior door for proper latching
  • Consider opening doors fully AND only a few inches to make sure they latch
• Document deficiencies and track repairs
• Establish expectations for daily door sweeps once school resumes

This directly supports compliance expectations tied to TEA monitoring and district reporting through Sentinel.

4. Review Armed Personnel Coverage and Readiness

Under TEC §37.081 and HB 3 requirements, districts must ensure appropriate armed personnel are in place for each campus.

Summer is the time to confirm and not just assume coverage.

Considerations:

• Staffing levels for ISD police, SROs, or contracted security
• Coverage gaps due to retirements, transfers, or vacancies
• What is the plan for when armed staff is out sick, on vacation, training, etc?
• Training and qualification status (TCOLE, district requirements, etc.)
• Equipment readiness and inspection

Strategic Question:

If school started tomorrow, would every campus meet compliance requirements?

If the answer is not a confident “yes,” summer is the window to fix it.

Policy Reference: CKE(Legal)

5. Update Training and Drill Plans

While drills may not occur during summer, planning for them should.

Under TEC §37.114 and TAC §103.1209, districts must conduct drills and exercises aligned with emergency preparedness requirements.

Summer Focus:

• Develop or refine the annual drill schedule
• Align drills with Standard Response Protocol (SRP) or district-adopted frameworks
• Plan for inclusive and developmentally appropriate drills
• Integrate after-action review (AAR) processes into every exercise

Reinforcement Tip:

Ensure drills are not just compliance-based but also a learning opportunity for all staff.

Policy Reference: CKC (Legal)

6. Strengthen After-Action Review (AAR) Processes

One of the most underutilized tools in school safety is the after-action review.

Summer provides time to evaluate how your district learns from events.

Ask:

• Are AARs consistently conducted after drills and incidents?
• Are corrective actions tracked and completed?
• Is leadership involved in reviewing outcomes?

A strong AAR process turns routine drills into meaningful improvements and demonstrates a culture of continuous improvement.

7. Prepare for the Next Emergency Operations Plan Review Cycle

The Texas School Safety Center Emergency Operations Plan review process is structured, time-bound, and increasingly detailed.

Districts should use summer to get ahead.

Key Reminders:

• Only specific components (such as the Basic Plan and Active Threat Annex) may be formally reviewed in each cycle
• Deficiencies can trigger 30, 60, or 90-day corrective action timelines
• Supporting annexes and documentation must still be maintained and accessible

Practical Step:

Conduct an internal pre-review before submission to identify gaps early.

Policy Reference: CK(Legal) CKA(Legal), and CKC(Legal)

8. Evaluate Safety & Security Committee Effectiveness

Under TEC §37.109, districts must maintain an active Safety and Security Committee.

Summer is a good time to assess how effective that group really is.

Consider:

• Membership compliance and representation
• Frequency and quality of meetings
• Documentation of discussions and recommendations
• Alignment with district safety priorities

Reinforcement Tip:

This committee is required to meet once during the summer, so ensure at least one meeting occurs before the start of the school year to set priorities.

Policy Reference: CK(Legal) CKA(Legal), and CKC(Legal)

9. Plan for Summer Activities and After-Hours Use

Risk doesn't pause during the summer. Neither should districts' commitment to safety. 

After-hours use of district facilities for camps, athletics, maintenance projects, and community events introduces risk. Texas Education Code 37.108(f)(8): Each school district and open-enrollment charter school must include provisions for ensuring the safety of students, staff, and spectators during extracurricular activities sponsored or sanctioned by the district.

Focus Areas:

• Clear command and supervision during events
• Access control during non-school hours
• Coordination with local law enforcement and emergency services
• Emergency communication protocols for non-traditional schedules

Reinforcement Tip:

Don’t assume standard procedures will carry over after hours.  Clearly define who is in charge, how emergencies are communicated, and how access is controlled for every event or activity.

10. Take Advantage of Fund Resources and Support

The TASB Risk Management Fund provides practical, no-cost support to help districts navigate emergency planning responsibilities.

Benefits of Membership Include:

Targeted guidance on EOP components and compliance alignment

• Reunification planning support and facilitated tabletop exercises
• Advisory input on armed personnel models and policy considerations
• Advisory support for current or proposed school-based law enforcement programs
• Customized tools, checklists, and templates
• Implementation support to help districts translate plans into practice

Final Thought

The summer season is not a pause in safety protocols or planning. It’s a strategic opportunity.

The districts that use summer effectively are not just checking compliance boxes. They are building systems that function under stress, training staff who understand their roles, and creating environments where safety is embedded in daily operations.

Because when the school year begins, there is far less time to fix what wasn’t addressed.

And in school safety, preparation done early is often what makes the difference when it matters most.