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District reviews emergency operations plan; officials describe monthly drills and law-enforcement coordination
Summary
Jackson Public School District staff reported that schools test components of the district Emergency Operations Plan through monthly drills, that 31 of 36 schools had updated crisis response plans, and that the district is working to align drills, floor plans and communications with local law enforcement.
Mark Young, the district’s director of emergency management, briefed the board on the Jackson Public School District’s 2024–25 Emergency Operations Plan and described how the district tests and updates school-level crisis response plans (CRPs).
Young said schools test CRP components monthly and perform 19 prescribed drills — nine fire drills and 10 other drills such as intruder/lockdown, bus evacuation and tornado drills — and that the CRP mirrors the district EOP. “They test those plans, every month,” he said.
Young said district staff review drill documentation and that, at the time of the report, 31 of 36 schools had their CRPs completed and were conducting required drills. He described examples of onsite observation and follow-up: during a September fire drill at Powell, staff found teachers were using phones to take roll instead of a physical roster; Young told principals the physical roster should be available to confirm student counts to arriving responders.
On lockdown and intruder drills, Young said he, the deputy chief of campus enforcement and others observed a drill where staff secured classrooms, cafeteria and common areas within roughly three minutes. He cautioned not all schools meet that timeframe and said the office will re-test and provide coaching where needed.
Superintendent Doctor Green and board members discussed interagency coordination. Green said Mississippi law and operational practice establish that “whoever’s first on scene is in charge,” and emphasized ongoing meetings with Jackson Police Department, Hinds County and CCID to align plans, share floor plans and ensure compatible communications and frequencies. Young said the district will publish a 90-day training matrix to expand preparedness training for senior leadership, teachers and support staff in the coming semester.
Board members asked about reunification site planning, how many schools completed required drills and how the district coordinates with first responders. Young said missing CRP items were administrative (for example, reunification site details) and that the team expects 100% completion before the winter break. Doctor Green and campus enforcement leaders described repeated coordination meetings with JPD and Hinds County and said floor plans and communications interoperability have been shared to reduce jurisdictional confusion during an incident.
No formal board action was taken; Young said additional training and follow-up testing are scheduled.
