APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Appleton Area School District and local law enforcement are working to create a safe way to reunite students with family members in case of an emergency situation.
Their plan was put to the test for the first time Tuesday. The training focused on what happens after an emergency, which is the process of reuniting parents with their children.
“A reunification plan to us is no different than having a plan in place for a tornado drill or a snow day,” said Mark Hansel, executive director of operations for AASD.
Hansel says every step was rehearsed — from the moment parents arrive to when they leave with their children.
“We would only use a reunification such as this one in a large-scale event, where we had to evacuate an entire facility.”
The process begins at a staging area, chosen by the district, which will be filled with staff and emergency personnel. Students and then parents begin arriving.
“We want to make sure all of our students are accounted for and all our students are safe,” said Hansel.
Parents are given a reunification card, where they put down information about them and their child.
The card is then given to a “Reunifier” who goes and recovers the student.
Finally, the parent and student are reunited. The card is given to an “Accountant,” who then keeps track and sorts them.
“We’re not just turning students over to parents without a formalized process,” said Hansel.
The Standard Reunification Method was created by the I Love U Guys Foundation.
“They’re a nationally known foundation that help K-12 facilities manage situations like this,” said Hansel.
It’s a method to make reunification after crises easier.
“This is the first time that the Appleton Area School District has had a plan this complete,” said Hansel. “We’ve had plans in the past but not as thorough and not as complete as the plan we currently have.”
“Obviously, in an active incident, the majority of us are responding to that location. The site is ours,” said Lt. Jack Taschner, school resource officer coordinator for the Appleton Police Department.
“To think you’re going to wing something like this, especially in a district the size of Appleton Area School District with 16,000 students, you’re not going to be able to wing this,” said Taschner. “So, knowing we have a plan in place and that we’re able to do these things in conjunction with them is huge.”
For more information about this type of plan, click here.
