By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Under the leadership of Dr. Anthony Naradko, director of safety and security, Parkland School District staff practiced procedures which will lead to reunification of children and parents in case of an emergency.

Director of Community Relations and Development Nicole McGalla said the detailed protocol has been in place for some time, but the actual exercise enabled teachers and other personnel to experience how it works and make changes, if necessary.

For the functional exercise, a chemical spill was imagined at Veterans Memorial Elementary School, causing evacuation of the building.

If the event were real, students would be placed on school buses and transported to another location rather than sent home.

At a secure building, students would then unite with their parents or other adults authorized in school records.

During an actual emergency, roads would be closed and fire police would be at the scene to direct traffic.

“We had this down on paper,” McGalla said. “Now we did it as an actual drill. Everything was timed.”

During an emergency, the command center is at the office of the superintendent who is at the helm of the proceedings.

In a presentation at the August board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Tim Chorones reported another family reunification drill will be conducted during the new school term to assess the protocol and the communication system associated with it.

As he commented on safety and security goals for 2022-23, Chorones said the district will provide professional development for staff in the active assailant protocol, known as Run, Hide, Fight in collaboration with local law enforcement.

During the new school term, staff will conduct two district level emergency management committee meetings with law enforcement agencies serving the district, on ongoing mandate.

Chorones said the district will implement security improvements at district facilities which have been recommended in the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design program.