Emergency Use of Equipment and Facilities
I. Use of School Buses
In accordance with RCW 28A.160.080 and RCW 28A.160.090, the school buses may be rented to governmental agencies for the purpose of transporting personnel, supplies, and/or evacuees in the event of an emergency.
Such renting may take place only after the state director of emergency services or any of his agents so authorized has, at the request of an involved governmental agency, declared that an emergency exists in a designated area insofar as the need for additional transport is concerned.
The agency renting the school buses must agree, in writing, to reimburse the school district for all costs and expenses related to their use and also must provide an indemnity agreement protecting the district against any type of claim or legal action whatsoever, including all legal costs incident thereto.
Further, such renting may take place only after all in-school children have been transported and upon approval of the superintendent of schools or his/her designee.
Such renting shall be immediately relinquished upon demand by a higher authority state agency.
II. Use of School Food Service Facilities
The use of school food service facilities for disaster or emergency mass feeding may take place only upon approval of the superintendent of schools or his/her designee.
The following types of assistance may be provided by the school district:
- Participation in pre-disaster planning for emergency feeding.
- The utilization of school lunchroom facilities as central feeding stations or as central food preparation stations for mobile feeding.
- Inventories of food supplies on hand, including USDA donated foods, at the time school lunchroom is utilized for disaster purposes.
- Participation of regular school food service personnel for supervision of the use of school lunch facilities.
- Participation of school food service personnel for the preparation and service of food on premises other than the school lunchroom.
The agency using the school food service facilities must agree, in writing, to reimburse the school district for all costs and expenses related to their use and also must provide an indemnity agreement protecting the district against any type of claim or legal action whatsoever, including all legal costs incident thereto.
The using agency must also agree to the following:
- Assume financial responsibility for the cost of feeding persons in need as a result of disaster where appropriate pre-disaster plans exist or after appropriate clearance with an authorized representative.
- Retain administrative control of all financial commitments made in connection with utilization of school lunchroom facilities for emergency disaster feeding.
- Through the cooperation of USDA, provide surplus commodities to augment other food supplies needed in the feeding program.
- Replace commodities provided by USDA as well as food purchased by individual schools when such foods are utilized in the disaster feeding program.
- Provide identification for facilities being utilized with primary recognition of the school lunch program.
- Provide additional volunteers to assist school food service personnel throughout the disaster feeding operation as needed.
III. Use of School Facilities as Temporary Shelters
The use of school facilities for disaster or emergency temporary shelters may take place only upon approval of the superintendent of schools or his/her designee.
The using agency must agree to the following:
- Provide adequate personnel to staff the designated facility.
- Provide adequate materials and supplies to operate the designated facility.
- Utilize parking and other incidental facilities as designated by school district personnel.
- Reimburse the school district for all reasonable costs and expenses related to their use.
- Provide an indemnity agreement protecting the district against any type of claim or legal action whatsoever, including all incidental legal costs.
Legal References:
RCW 28A.160.080 |
School buses, rental or lease for emergency purposes--Authorization |
28A.160.090 |
School buses, rental or lease for emergency purposes--Board to determine district policy--Conditions if rent or lease |
Initially Adopted: July 10, 1980
Adopted: April 12, 2010