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Stillwater district reviews drills, ‘run–hide–fight’ guidance and new security equipment plan
Summary
Operations director Mark Drummerhausen summarized prevention work, building-level safety committees, the district’s standard-response protocol (I Love You Guys), an updated run/hide/fight approach, planned security strobes and camera upgrades, and a reunification practice the district conducted.
Mark Drummerhausen, the district’s executive director of operations, briefed the board on the district’s layered safety program, emphasizing prevention, relationships, consistent drills and new physical-security upgrades funded through the district’s capital program.
Drummerhausen described prevention work — “the number one thing you can do is the relationships you have with your kids, the relationships that you have with your families,” he said — and noted a district “see something, say something” reporting link that generated 83 reports last year.
He outlined the district’s standard-response categories (evacuate, shelter, hold, secure, lockdown) that the district uses in drills under the I Love You Guys protocol. Drummerhausen said staff training now emphasizes the run/hide/fight concept and that staff should use professional judgment in an active threat — “whatever the first thing that comes to your mind in that situation, do it,” he told the board. He also said lockdown drills will now be announced at least 24 hours in advance and that principals used age-appropriate videos and staff guides to prepare students.
On equipment, Drummerhausen listed near-term work: adding security strobes in large or hard-to-hear spaces (gyms, cafeterias), targeted camera replacement and expanded coverage, and replacement of 15-year-old radio/walkie-talkie systems. He said the district conducted a reunification practice with county emergency partners and worked with law enforcement agencies — Stillwater Police, Oak Park Heights Police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office — to coordinate response and communications.
Ending — next steps District staff will continue building school-level safety plans, complete the security hardware upgrades, finalize radio replacement, and report progress to the board. The administration said it will continue to communicate with families about drills, reunification plans and how to report concerns.
