MONROE — Teachers will be equipped for a variety of disasters once a new fundraiser is complete.
The Monroe Public Schools Foundation launched a funding campaign to purchase emergency kits at its annual auction March 22. The kits cost about $150 each. The foundation’s goal is to buy 366, enough for every classroom.
The hope is get them into schools districtwide by this fall, said foundation director Sue Skillen.
The equipment will be useful for both natural and man-made emergencies, from earthquakes and chemical spills to violent intruders and power disruptions, Skillen said.
The kits include typical first aid supplies and diverse extras including rope, a whistle, blackout shades, sanitary supplies, a razor knife and emergency blankets. There are also dust masks for addressing volcanic eruptions and other disasters.
Many Monroe classrooms already had emergency kits but most are outdated and inadequate, officials say.
Currently, “there is no set standard for kit contents, regular updates, or consistency” in the kits, said district spokeswoman Tamara Krache.
The new kits were designed by the district’s safety officer and a foundation board member.
The foundation is scheduled to go before the City Council April 9 to enlist support for the fundraising effort.
