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Platteville School District previews reunification plan, schedules training and tabletop exercises
Summary
Board members and staff reviewed a reunification plan designed to speed reunifying students with families after emergencies, discussed using the Standard Response Protocol and role cards, and planned tabletop and simulated exercises including a county-hosted session set for July 16.
The Platteville School District board heard a detailed presentation on the district's reunification plan, a set of procedures and exercises intended to reunify students with parents quickly after emergencies.
Board member introduced the item and said the central question is "how quickly can we reunify students with parents and reduce that... anxiety" to minimize distress. Staff presenter Jacob said the effort centers on two tools: a poster using the Standard Response Protocol to standardize incident language and a set of reunification role cards that provide step-by-step job descriptions for whoever fills a role on-site.
Jacob and other staff described scenario cards used in staff training, and recommended tabletop exercises and a larger simulation to practice roles across agencies. "Tabletop exercise is basically there's a map of the city of Platteville," Jacob said, describing a drill that lays out responsibilities for EMS, fire, police and school personnel and how they would coordinate.
The board discussed a county-hosted safety session scheduled for July 16 to bring school and emergency-service teams together, and district staff said they are planning simulated outdoor events and building-level professional development so staff know their roles. Staff also noted post-reunification counseling resources and outreach to neighboring districts to build a support network.
Board members highlighted that some of the equipment kits were partly funded by a community fund contribution and praised the I Love You Guys Foundation materials used as part of the training. One board member stressed the goal: "we hope this is the biggest thing we ever waste our money," meaning they hope the resources are never needed in an actual emergency.
Next steps described to the board included reviewing printed incident-role cards provided in board documents, scheduling the July county session, and arranging district drills during August professional development and later simulated events at the activity complex. The board did not take a formal vote on the plan at the meeting.
