DEACATUR, Ill. (WAND) — In August 2022, the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education #39 began efforts to strengthen school emergency preparedness. After years of work, and in partnership with local law enforcement, EMS, and surrounding schools, they hosted a reunification exercise Wednesday afternoon.
The reunification process would happen in the event that students and staff would have to be evacuated off campus. By developing a plan, law enforcement, EMS, and school staff and administrators are better equipped to reunite students with their guardians.
Warrensburg-Latham CUSD #11 Superintendent Cheryl Warner said it was specifically designed to organize the process. "It is purposefully written in a universal, philosophy to kind of slow the process down, to give the staff and the parents, you know, the feeling that we're making progress every time we move to the next step. We're making progress towards the final reunification."
ROE #39 Superintendent Jill Reedy said it took collaboration from all parties to be able to develop a plan that would work for all ad guarantee the safety of students. "In working together, we realized how important it was to train together, work together, plan together, and the superintendents and administrators, I think it was very comforting to realize, okay, I'm not in this alone. And I have support maybe down the road from the partner school district that I'm working with."
Copyright 2025. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
