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Mahomet-Seymour highlights safety event to connect first responders with students who have special needs
Summary
At a June 16 Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3 board meeting, staff described a May safety event that enrolled families of students with special needs in a premise-alert program and let children meet first responders to improve emergency outcomes.
Miss Northrop, a district staff member, told the Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3 Board of Education on June 16 that the district held an invite-only safety event on May 3 aimed at helping first responders recognize and respond to children with special needs.
The event, designed after concerns raised at an IEP meeting about elopement and new neighborhood construction, invited 75 families identified from district needs data; 31 RSVP'd and attended. "We have a 130 students who have communication needs," Northrop said, and "272 students who have medical protocols," citing examples ranging from allergies to seizure disorders.
The nut graf: district staff said the goals were to promote awareness among first responders, make students feel safer when approached by police or firefighters, and build collaborative relationships among families, staff and emergency personnel so responders would have actionable information during calls.
District organizers described the event format: a low‑crowd “touch a truck” setup that let children explore fire and emergency vehicles without long lines or sensory overload; on‑site staff helped families complete premise‑alert forms that include identifying information, approach tactics, mobility details and medical needs. With parental consent, the district submitted completed forms and photos to Champaign County dispatch (MetCAD) and provided hard copies to Mahomet Police Department so responding crews would have pictures and practical details tied to a student’s record.
Alyssa Stites, the district BCBA, prepared visual supports for families and students to use at home and in school to explain emergency procedures in accessible ways, district staff said. The event also distributed donated safety items, including door/window alarms and GPS tags.
District staff said the program grew from a local IEP concern to a coordinated effort that included Mahomet PD, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, Corn Belt (ambulance/EMS) and MetCAD. Northrop said the district plans to do a similar event again, though "probably not yearly, but maybe every other year," and that staff helped families who could not attend complete the premise alert forms later.
Board members and staff praised the event; one board member called it "a really good idea" and noted staff follow‑up with families who could not attend. The presentation closed with the superintendent and staff thanking volunteers and community donors who provided food and raffle items for families.
Ending: District staff framed the May event as a pilot that produced forms, photos and materials to improve first responder interactions with students who have communication or medical needs; the board did not take formal action on the item, but staff said they will continue working with local emergency partners and families to expand the program.
