Yankton schools detail standard response protocol and reunification planning

District administrators told the board they have adopted the I Love You Guys Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and are expanding training, coordination with local emergency responders, and a reunification plan to be practiced in May.

Assistant Principal Matt Decker outlined the district’s work since April 2024: administrators and school resource officers attended national training, the district held safety‑night outreach for parents in August, staff completed in‑service training in October, and a safety committee and task force met to draft incident‑command and reunification charts. Decker said principals and building staff have been engaged in defining building‑level roles and that the district conducted multiple meetings to 'dive into the weeds' of reunification logistics.

Assistant Principal Sean Shiley reviewed the SRP’s five responses — Hold (stay in classroom), Secure (get inside, continue instruction), Lockdown (locks, lights, out of sight), Evacuate (move to a safe location) and Shelter (hazard sheltering for severe weather) — and provided examples of when each would apply. He emphasized regular practice and staff training.

Decker said the district plans a full reunification practice in May with I Love You Guys present during in‑service; he told the board the district feels 'ahead of the ball game' after several months of planning. Board members also acknowledged staff for their response to a recent off‑campus incident and discussed practical cell‑phone use during incidents to allow students to notify parents when appropriate.

No policy changes were voted at the meeting; the presentation was informational and focused on training and coordination.