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Rice Lake board reviews district safety plans in first reading, schedules middle-school simulation
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Summary
Board members heard a first reading of school and district safety plans required by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and discussed planned exercises, including a December 22 simulation at Rice Lake Middle School with police and fire; administrators emphasized age-appropriate, trauma-informed exercises.
Board members on Oct. 13 received a first reading of the district’s school and district safety plans, which must be submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Justice by the end of the calendar year.
Administrators reported completed building-level plans and presented a template to show the public and board the plan components. The safety committee and administrators (including Stephanie Bole and Andy Jondro) will continue refining procedures and communications with outside facility users prior to a second reading.
The board discussed practical exercises and a planned simulation on Dec. 22 at Rice Lake Middle School that will involve local police and fire. Administrators emphasized a trauma-informed, age-appropriate approach when training students and staff. As one administrator put it, training seeks to “give them as much knowledge as we can without scaring them,” noting the district runs reunification drills and lockdown-oriented exercises tailored to age and setting.
Board members acknowledged the difficulty of fully simulating such incidents and cautioned against overly realistic drills that have provoked community concern elsewhere. The safety plans presented at first reading will return to the board for a second reading and formal adoption after committee review and any suggested adjustments.
No formal action to adopt the plans was taken at the Oct. 13 meeting; the item was recorded as a first reading and will be brought back to the board.
