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District details new lockdown drills, 'to‑go' kits and reunification plans
Summary
District staff reported expanded building-level security committees, faster lockdown clearances, centrally stored emergency 'to‑go' boxes with master keys and maps, optional panic pendants for staff, and newly planned reunification training and drills on April 3 and April 10.
John Grumwald, who presented the district’s safety and security update, told the board the district has shifted to building-level security committees to improve daily responsiveness and that recent lockdown drills show improved proficiency: a prior walkthrough that took about 30 minutes was completed in roughly 10 minutes during a more recent exercise.
Grumwald described 'to‑go' boxes kept in a secure safe for each building. Each box contains duplicate badges, master keys for exterior and interior doors, emergency phone numbers, copies of the updated emergency plan and floor maps (including camera and alarm locations) so law enforcement and staff can access essential materials immediately.
He said onboarding for new staff now includes quick training on the district’s alert system and an offer of optional panic pendants that pair with a personal phone to notify administrators and dispatch if an employee needs assistance. Grumwald stressed the pendant is voluntary and available to all employees from custodians to the superintendent.
The district has assembled a reunification kit for drills and potential incidents that includes ID cards, color‑coded wristbands, clipboards and binders assigning specific duties to staff and responding law enforcement. The board was told an informational reunification session is scheduled for April 3 and a hands‑on reunification drill for April 10; law enforcement and county emergency‑management partners have been invited to participate.
Grumwald also said the district’s safety work has attracted external interest and that staff are reapplying for a COPS school safety grant (up to $500,000) with grant‑writing assistance. He thanked staff members who helped update emergency plans and emphasized ongoing training, after‑action reviews and tabletop exercises with county partners.
"We had law enforcement come in and clear each individual room and it took us about a half hour to get through the building. This year when we did it, we had it all cleared in about 10 minutes," Grumwald said, describing the improved proficiency.
Board members asked about next steps for training and how staff input will be included in future drills and preparedness work.
