RE-1 Valley School District to Test Reunification Plan

***News Release***


The RE-1 Valley School District Safety Committee has been diligently working toward effective, efficient procedures in emergency situations. On Wednesday, September 19, 2012, RE-1 Valley School District will test the Reunification portion of its Safety Response Plan with several area emergency response agencies in a Reunification Exercise scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The Mock Drill Exercise will test the plan to reunite students with parents in the event of an evacuation. Due to the Reunification Exercise, there will be no school for Sterling Middle School students on September 19, 2012; all other District buildings will be open with normal operating hours.

Sterling Middle School staff and volunteers will be playing the parts of parents and students. If interested in volunteering for this event, contact Carol Brom, Safety Design Team Chair, at (970) 522-9266. Volunteers will be needed from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The District will be testing the Reunification piece of its Safety Plan on September 19th, with assistance from Sterling Fire Department/Ambulance, NJC Fire Academy, Emergency Management, Sterling Police Department, Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Office of Emergency Management and Sterling Correctional Facility. Other agencies participating on the planning committee or cooperating as resources for the event include Northeast Colorado Health Department, Logan County Social Services and Sterling Regional Medical Center.

Parents are reminded to keep their child’s emergency contact information current and that, in the event of an actual Reunification, a photo ID will be required for the authorized individual(s) to pick up any student.

Dr. Summers, Superintendent, stated, “Student safety is always a priority and having plans in place to keep kids safe is important. Testing those plans to improve them will help us be prepared and keep our students that much safer.” Information is on the District’s website about what to expect in an actual situation if a school, or all the schools in the District, find it necessary to release students outside normal school hours.