Fayette County's public schools

have a crisis plan in place for any type of emergency, including one related

to homeland security, a school system spokesperson said.

"We've got plan to handle

anything that happens biological, bomb threats, tornadoes any type of

disaster that can hit a school," said Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. "If

anything like that happens, we would work with the media to let parents

where and when to pick up their children."

The school system does not

publicize exact details of its crisis plan in advance, because officials

do not want terrorists or other potential wrongdoers to know things that

would put children in danger, she added. The plan is approved by the state,

and personnel at every school are briefed on it.

One item specifically relating

to homeland security now being addressed by the school system in the threat

of smallpox, Berry-Dreisbach said. A plan is in the works to allow the

general public to come to the schools and receive vaccinations by school

nurses if the government deems it necessary.

As is routinely done around

the country in the event of severe weather, the school system would open

its buildings as possible shelters if the community needed them, she added.

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