Continuity of Operations Plans: Policy and Strategy for K-12 Schools in the State of Florida
Abstract
Schools, especially those at the K-12 academic levels, have to this point not been viewed as critical infrastructure, which is especially true for the state of Florida. Consequently, plans that address the continuity of this level of education have been slow to develop. This oversight could lead to a loss of academic continuity if a school were damaged or rendered unusable for any length of time, which could cause a cascading failure within the community. This has occurred in other states, such as Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri. The loss of such facilities impacts both the economic and operational response to local disasters, which is especially important in those communities that, because of their location, may be affected by disasters more than communities elsewhere. This situation is especially true for the state of Florida, as it is affected by numerous factors that could cause the cessation of academic requirements by law. For schools to maintain academic continuity, Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) should be developed. For the state of Florida, guidance is provided and statutorily identified requirements are identified for state governmental and university organizations to have COOPs. *In the case of K-12 schools, it is not required or identified. This research explores the policies and strategies that would be required to develop a K-12 academic level COOP for the state of Florida. Examples of COOPs for the University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, Louisiana Delta Community College, Piedmont Virginia Community College, and the Lake Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization are reviewed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA556020
Entities
People
- Rodney E. Andreasen
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School