Glide SD 12 board hears district safety presentation on five emergency protocols

Superintendent Freeman introduced a safety presentation explaining the district's approach to emergencies and named the three staff members serving as the district's primary safety points.

Brent, the district's designated safety point person and maintenance lead, described recent incidents this year that prompted a focus on rapid, local response'including maintenance staff reporting suspicious people on campus and an instance where a drone operator was approached and ultimately cited for trespassing. "If it makes their hair tingle, I want to know about it," Brent said, describing the district's "see something, say something" approach to campus safety.

Ed Villarreal, a high-school staff member who outlined the district's use of the "I Love You Guys" emergency protocols, said the framework has five parts: Hold (students remain in classrooms for privacy or medical response), Secure (perimeter secured for outside threats), Lockdown (threat inside the building), Evacuation, and Shelter (drop/cover/hold for hazards such as tornado or hazmat). He told the board the district follows Oregon requirements for drills and training: "We are mandated by Oregon law to at least do one evacuation drill a month and two lockdown and two earthquake drills," Ed said, describing drill frequency and the district's plan to add secure drills.

Board members asked about Incident Command System (ICS) training and tabletop exercises to coordinate with local responders and refine reunification plans. Ed and other staff said the district's emergency operations plan (EOP) includes reunification procedures and that ICS coursework and tabletop exercises have been used in nearby districts to surface issues like HVAC ventilation and crossing points for reunification.

Discussion turned to regional continuity challenges in a large Cascadia-style event: board members noted bridge crossings and local geography could impede reunification and suggested tapping community resources (boats, equipment owners) and mutual-aid options. Superintendent Freeman and staff emphasized practicing and conducting tabletop exercises to uncover logistical gaps before a real incident.

The presentation closed with staff offering to pursue additional training and to coordinate drills and exercises with county partners. Freeman invited board members to observe drills and visit classrooms to see safety practices in context. The board moved on to other business after the Q&A session.