Rural schools continue to enhance emergency response through collaborative, tailored training that brings together staff, local law enforcement, and EMS to address specific, resource-limited, or isolated challenges. These programs focus on creating comprehensive safety plans, conducting drills for scenarios like active shooters or natural disasters, and utilizing specialized training for after the emergency. West Central School District recently completed a “reunification process” that involves students being reunited with their parents off-site. Superintendent Stacey Day explains their process:
“We do lots of other safety drills; fire, tornado, all those things, and one piece in emergency planning that has really taken a lot of interest and taken a lot of focus the last couple of years is on this reunification side of things. This is post event – how do we get kids back with parents if something traumatic has happened in our buildings. It doesn’t have to be, I think everybody’s mind initially goes to an intruder or a shooting and it doesn’t have to be that. It could be a hazmat situation. It could be a tornado or a fire, something like that. So, the question is how do we get kids back to their parents in a timely manner and how do we ensure we are getting them to the right people.”
Day says it is important to continue to train the staff to ensure the safety of students and prevent loss of life.
