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Operations director: SBLC cleared for reoccupation; district reinforces monthly drills, 'hold' response and medsled training
Summary
Operations director told the board the Steely Valley Learning Center (SBLC) received clearance to reoccupy and outlined emergency preparedness requirements including monthly drills (policy 34‑32/RCW), the addition of a 'hold' response, and medsled equipment and training for multi‑story evacuations.
The district’s executive director of operations announced clearance to reoccupy the Steely Valley Learning Center (SBLC) and delivered the annual emergency‑preparedness briefing required by board policy and state law.
Why it matters: Reoccupying a school building after repairs affects students’ placement and daily routines; the emergency‑preparedness briefing reviewed statutory requirements for monthly drills and new practices intended to improve on‑site safety and evacuation capability.
Brian Lewis (executive director of operations) told the board that the SBLC received clearance to reoccupy and that his office will return furniture and cabinetry and coordinate student return over the coming week. He reviewed board policy 34‑32 and related RCW references that require regular safety drills.
Lewis said the district practices required drills — shelter‑in‑place, lockdowns and evacuations — monthly while in session and sometimes conducts physical exercises rather than tabletop discussions to build muscle memory. He announced an earthquake drill planned for September 25 (10 a.m.–noon) and said buildings were asked to prepare reunification exercises if they choose.
Lewis described the district’s adoption of a common response protocol (the Standard Response Protocol model used widely, produced by the I Love You Guys Foundation) and explained an added response the district calls a “hold,” which keeps everyone where they are to allow emergency responders or maintenance staff to clear an incident (examples given: a medical emergency or a significant plumbing leak), reserving lockdown/lockout/evacuation for dangerous incidents.
He also discussed multi‑story evacuations and showed a medsled (multi‑function evacuation device) used to lower injured students or staff down stairwells when elevators are unavailable. The district plans to purchase a medsled for Haller so every school building will be equipped, and operations staff are scheduling training (Lewis noted training at Pioneer on Friday). Lewis said medsleds are intended for both youth and adult evacuations when elevators are disabled (for example after an earthquake).
The operations director said an Emergency Management Response Team (EMART) — principals, transportation, tech, SROs and other staff — meets monthly to plan drills, and he reviewed an example agenda used to plan the year’s safety calendar.
Ending: The item was informational. Board members thanked operations staff for the SBLC clearance and for the preparedness briefing.
