Springdale Park Elementary has a Safety Plan that is regularly practiced with our students. Below, are some of the details that APS has approved for distribution, which we would like to share:

• All training and emergency guidelines are in compliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA).
• All schools are required to send personnel to Safety Coordinators training yearly.
• Safety plans are reviewed and approved by Atlanta Public School Safety and Security Department, the Atlanta Fire Department, and Atlanta Police Department Detectives Unit.
• Monthly emergency drills include the seven types –Bomb, Intruder, Tornado, Fire, Bus Evacuation, AED, and Earthquake.
• All Fire Drills are monitored by the Atlanta Fire Department.
• Every school has staff on hand trained in CPR/AED and First Aid.
• Police and Security have direct access to APS Close Circuit Television at each school.
• APS has 24 hour Emergency Communications Center with 911.

If there is an emergency whereby we must leave or evacuate the school there is a procedure in place. If this happens, SPARK will work in conjunction with the Atlanta Public Schools to notify parents via a robo-call and/or an emergency SPARK-e. Morningside Elementary is our Reunification site.

Much of the SPARK Safety Plan cannot be shared for security reasons. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Toney.

Many SPARK families and community members have expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of those who utilize our crosswalks on Briarcliff and Ponce. In fact – the SPARK PTO and now the SPARK Governance Board (GO Team) have been working to resolve this situation for years – with only pockets of success.

However, the GO Team and PTO co-signed and sent a final letter to the Atlanta Public Schools, City of Atlanta, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta Department of Public Works, Atlanta School Board, and Atlanta Police Department Officials – outlining the issues and requesting an action plan be established in the next 30 days. In addition – we’ve invited representatives from each of those groups above to attend “International Walk to School Day’ on 10/5/16 to understand what our families experience on a daily basis.

Following are the letters:

1/8/2017 – SPARK Campus and Pedestrian Safety Concerns Update

9/20/2016 – Letter Concerning Road Safety

9/20/2016 – Attachment of 2009 SPARK Meeting Minutes with GDOT

9/20/2016 – Attachment of Safe Routes to School Travel Plan

SPARK Principal, Mr. Harness and Assistant Principal, Dr. Toney as well as the SPARK PTO have been working with APS to improve safety around the SPARK campus and a primary concern is the safety of pedestrians walking to and from SPARK. As part of that effort, the SPARK Crosswalk Parents program is asking for parent volunteers to make the commute to SPARK safer and faster for our children and parents. Due to a shortage of APS crossing guards, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Feel free to reach out directly to Mr. Harness if this is of interest to you.  Terry.Harness@atlanta.k12.ga.us