GLASFORD, Ill. – School districts will typically practice drills for emergency situations, such as a fire or a natural disaster. But one Peoria County school district wants to have parents practice what to do in such a situation.
Illini Bluffs will perform a reunification drill on September 22nd. The aim is to have parents know what to do to reunite with their children in an emergency situation.
Superintendent Roger Alvey says without parents knowing what to do to get their kids, it can get chaotic.
“Parents, and rightfully so, I’m a parent with four of my own children, their primary concern is to get to those kids. And we want to make sure that is done in a controlled manner, because, ultimately, we’re responsible for those kids,” Alvey said.
Alvey says the drill will begin after lunch, and will simulate a fire drill. Students will be escorted to an off-site, predetermined location. The district will then send out messages to parents through texts, email, social media, and the district’s website on which location their child is at and how to pick them up.
Parents will then sign paperwork at a check-in table and go through a specific door to reunite with their child. The district is asking parents to have up-to-date contact information and picture IDs for whoever is picking up the student.
Alvey says the drill will involve a traffic flow map, traffic control by local police, a Salvation Army trailer with water and snacks for students, communication trailers, and drones.
He says practicing drills with parents is something school districts do not perform often.
“A lot of districts might have a plan, a reunification plan, and practice it with their employees only. But they don’t ever practice it with the actual parents, or rarely does that happen,” Alvey said.
Alvey also wants future drills to be on a countywide level with mutual aid, saying that some who are assisting in an emergency situation could be distracted with concerns for their children.
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