To ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors, school districts regularly conduct a variety of safety drills. These are essential to the success of a district’s emergency operations plan and help build confidence among occupants for preparing them on how to respond in an emergency.
Article authors Roz Craney and Jordan Franklin will be presenting “Reunification — Where Do We Begin? One District’s Story” at this summer’s Campus Safety Conference being held in Austin, Texas, July 21-23. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.
The drills can include evacuation (fire) drills, hold drills, lockdown drills, severe weather drills and other emergency procedures. In fact, most states require schools to perform these exercises so staff and students are well-prepared. However, one very important component of an emergency plan that is often overlooked is what happens after the event has concluded: reunification. This refers to the process of safely reuniting students and staff with their families or guardians.
Without even thinking much about it, schools reunify students every day at school dismissal. However, reunification following an unplanned event – such as a power outage or an active threat – can cause significant stress and confusion to staff, students, families, and the community. It is essential that schools have a collaboratively designed plan for reunification and that they practice it regularly.
5 Strategies for a Successful Student Reunification Program
Establishing a reunification plan for a district can be a challenging task. It requires forming partnerships with local businesses, organizing staff, gathering needed materials, developing a successful training plan, and dedicating time to practice, modify and implement the plan. Although this work can be difficult, there are a few strategies that can help districts in the planning process.
1. Start small: Reunification can feel like an overwhelming task, but focusing on the basics will help get the plan started. Start with identifying a single reunification site, establish key staff roles during reunification, and practice the plan. Take careful note of what works well with your plan and what needs improvement. Expand the plan to include more locations or more details as you go.
DeForest Area SD Director of Safety & Operations Roz Craney. Photo courtesy Roz Craney
2. Be flexible: Your reunification plan does not have to be perfect from the start. In fact, it will never be perfect. Understand that things will change, and reunification planning is an ongoing process. A key term to remember in reunification planning is “pivot.” Challenges will undoubtedly arise – even with the best plan – and being ready to react and adjust your plan will be important. It is important that everyone on your team realizes this, accepts it, and plans and trains for change to happen.
Related Article: Reunification Realities: 7 Lessons Learned from a School Active Shooter Exercise
3. Look for other successful examples: Each district will have a slightly different reunification plan that meets the needs of their size, location, and available resources. However, you do not have to “reinvent the wheel” when drafting your reunification plan. Organizations such as The I Love You Guys Foundation provide free reunification resources and offer training and support to help districts develop and implement their plan. In addition, consider partnering with nearby districts to collaborate, share learning and resources.
DeForest Area SD Reunification Coordinator Jordan Franklin. Photo courtesy Jordan Franklin
4. Find partners: Expand your network beyond your school district to form partners with local law enforcement, fire, and EMS. These agencies can offer a unique perspective to your reunification plan. While it is not their job to run reunification, they will need to be familiar with your plan to best provide assistance, so it makes sense to involve them from the beginning. In the event of an active threat reunification, your staff likely will be occupied with managing the situation, so utilizing the partnerships created with neighboring districts and local first responders will ensure that the plan runs smoothly.
5. Communicate with your stakeholders: Informing your stakeholders – parents, teachers, administrators, and community members – is a crucial step in developing a reunification plan for schools. These groups need to feel confident that the district is well-prepared to handle an emergency and protect the safety of students and staff. It helps to foster a unified, prepared, and effective response to an emergency. Furthermore, if stakeholders understand the reunification procedures, it can help reduce anxiety and confusion, especially during high-stress situations.
While formulating and executing an efficient reunification plan can feel daunting, following these steps will set you and your district up for success. Remember to start small, involve others and be ready to PIVOT!
Roz Craney is director of safety and operations, and Jordan Franklin is reunification coordinator for the DeForest Area School District in DeForest, Wis.
