Columbia Cardiac Emergency Response

 The Columbia School District vision is “Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow”.  An encouraging, positive and safe learning environment is pertinent to the success of our children.  Columbia has focused our efforts on providing a safe, secure environment for our students and staff members to properly deliver a positive beneficial learning environment for our school family.

This past week the Columbia teachers, staff members and administrators learned about our Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and how it benefits our students.  The Cardiac Emergency Response Plan was created with a partnership with the Columbia Township Fire Department and Project ADAM.  Since 1999, Project ADAM has provided schools with the resources necessary for planning and implementing school cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) programs.

The orientation to the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan included an overview of the plan and an example of an emergency scenario to help guide and direct responders, teachers and staff members.  The plan includes the creation of a Cardiac Emergency Response Team.  The teams are made up of five to 10 people in each building who are designated to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency.  The team members are located in various areas of each school building to ensure adequate coverage.

Sudden cardiac arrest events can vary greatly.  Faculty, staff and Cardiac Emergency Response Team (CERT) members must be prepared to perform the duties necessary in an emergency.   Immediate action is crucial in order to successfully respond to a cardiac emergency.  The Cardiac Emergency Response Plan orientation was led by Dr. Campbell who is a certified American Red Cross CPR and AED instructor. 

Over the next month the students in each building will become more acquainted to the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and how to support the effort to increase the safe environment in our district.  In addition, the groups who are using the Columbia School District facilities will be able to access the plan and instructions.  The idea is to provide an increased level of safety for our students and community members while using our buildings.  If you are interested in learning more about the program or any other Columbia School District initiative, please email Pamela.Campbell@myeagles.org or call 5175926641.

January is School Board appreciation month.  Our dedicated Columbia School District board members share a common goal to provide a positive learning environment for our children.  With deep care and compassion our board members put in hundreds of hours focusing on the well-being of each student. Their time is well spent attending extracurricular activities, joining professional development sessions, and volunteering at school community events.  Continually advocating for children, they work diligently alongside parents and community members to set policy and create a vision to help our students experience educational success.

Education is very important in the history of the United States and the volunteer members of local school boards have been essential in the progress towards excellent learning environments for our children.  Complex challenges and serious issues, along with financial ambiguities face our board members as they collaborate with community members and parents. 

Our citizen school board leaders, President Robert Wahr, Vice-President Mark Fish, Treasurer Garrick Zuver, Secretary Jodi Collins, Trustee Brian Knapp, Trustee Dave Slusher and Trustee Chris Holbert, consistently rise to the occasion in their challenging duties with extraordinary dedication.  Their concerted efforts are the key to establish policies that will prepare our children to become future leaders.

I congratulate the Columbia School District board members for their success in providing an excellent educational experience for all of our children.  During this month of appreciation, join with me to applaud our school board members who provide enthusiastic support and caring for our students, teachers and administrators. 

There are many ways in which you may express your gratitude and support for our school board members: Email them a note of appreciation, send them a letter of support, express your thanks in a phone call, or make a donation to your favorite school program in their name.  Your positive feedback to these unselfish leaders will be greatly appreciated.  If you are interested in learning more about the Columbia School District, please contact me at pamela.campbell@myeagles.org or call 517-592-6641.