Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to (1) examine California County Offices of Education's (COE) emergency management staff perceptions and reported current status of the roles and responsibilities of their office in county Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activities focusing on the areas of coordination, communication, and interoperability; (2) examine the perceptions and opinions of current status that county Emergency Operations Center managers report regarding County Offices of Education's role in Emergency Operations Center activities focusing on the areas of coordination, communication, and interoperability; and (3) compare the two groups' perceptions and views of current status of the role of County Offices of Education in county Emergency Operations Center activities. Methodology. This study was based on a descriptive and ex post facto nonexperimental research design. The subjects in the study were staff of California County Offices of Education and county Emergency Operations Centers. Subjects responded to an online research instrument. Eighty-six subjects responded from the 116 agencies surveyed. Findings. Examination of data indicated COE's knowledge of Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES®) does not match both the COE's and EOC's perceptions of the need for training in RACES/ARES®. Also, COEs and EOCs have similar perceptions on the level of their coordination, communication, and interoperability. In general, COEs and EOCs differ in their reports of COE's current status in emergency operations critical for coordination, communication, and interoperability with EOCs. County Offices of Education reported stronger agreement than county Emergency Operations Centers that COEs should hold a standing position in the EOC's Operations Section. Conclusions. The study data support the conclusion that County Offices of Education and county Emergency Operations Centers should continue to work together or begin working together to enhance their coordination, communication, and interoperability. Recommendations. Further research is advised: Study County Offices of Education and County Emergency Operations Centers that have established strong partnerships to identify best practices for such collaboratives; and define roles and responsibilities of County Offices of Education in Emergency Operations Center activities based on the study of strong partnerships.