Frequently Asked Questions

How often do our schools practice emergency drills?

Following a monthly schedule, our schools practice emergency response procedures (drills) during the school year. By New York state public school law, a school is required to conduct eight evacuation drills and four lockdown drills. On top of this, our schools also practice emergency response procedures called Hold-In-Place, Shelter-In-Place, and Secured Lockout. Each school is required to keep a monthly log of the drills that they conduct, and at the end of the school year, they are submitted to Michael Paladino, Director of District Safety, for his review. To reinforce these emergency response drills, the district conducts two 'safety weeks' during the school year: one in the fall and one in the spring.

Does Rush-Henrietta have a good relationship with law enforcement?

Yes! Rush-Henrietta has an outstanding relationship with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's deputies visit school grounds on a regular basis to increase their visibility on campus and help provide our students with an even safer place to learn and grow. We appreciate the relationships we have built with all first responders in our community, and we thank the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for its continued efforts to keep our students and staff members safe. If you see a sheriff’s deputy at one of our schools, chances are good that he or she is just visiting. We very much appreciate their efforts in recent years to be more visible on our school campus.

Does the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Train in Rush-Henrietta Schools?

Yes, this happens regularly as part of our partnership with local law enforcement. These training sessions can include drones, K-9 units, SWAT teams, and road deputies and often last for hours. We take advantage of the opportunities to not only help them train, but to allow them to gain the invaluable knowledge about the layout of our schools that we pray they will never need. While some districts are reluctant to host law enforcement on their campus for fear that it will send a message to the public that their schools are not safe, we embrace opportunities to welcome them.

What should I do if I have a safety-related concern?

Everyone in the Rush-Henrietta Central School District is encouraged to report safety-related concerns by calling the Safe Schools Helpline. This line is checked regularly. You also may contact Director of District Safety Michael Paladino. If your concern is an emergency, please call 911. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure safe and secure learning environments.