FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chatham County Schools Staff
Holds Standard Reunification Training
CHATHAM COUNTY (October 28, 2024) – Chatham County Schools, in partnership with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and Chatham County Emergency Management, performed a Standard Reunification Method (SRM) training to introduce SRM procedures and practice coordinated responses amongst multiple departments and agencies.
The Standard Reunification Method was developed by The “I Love You Guys” Foundation and has been implemented by more than 50,000 agencies worldwide. The goal of the Standard Reunification Method is to handle crisis response and reunify guardians with their students in a calm, orderly, and respectful manner. A reunification site would be deployed as a result of a situation where the school is rendered unsafe to stay in and ensures the school district maintains a proper chain of custody for every student. The “I Love You Guys” Foundation provides accessible Reunification Operation Kits and guidance on how to properly implement a reunification plan. Chatham County Schools staff have committed over a year of planning and creating a structure that fits the needs of our schools and staff capacity.
“The Standard Reunification exercise held today has allowed Chatham County Schools staff to practice the plan. In the event of a crisis, we want to be aptly prepared to handle the needs of our parents, students, and staff and to deescalate much of the situational anxiety with an orderly process,” said Chatham County Schools Assistant Superintendent for Operations Chris Blice. “This also allows us to continue strengthening relationships with our sheriff’s office and emergency management teams and ensure we’re on the same page with crisis response.”
"Ensuring the safety of our students extends beyond immediate response; it includes what happens after a critical event to bring peace of mind to families,” said Sheriff Mike Roberson. “Today’s reunification drill allows us to practice the process of safely reconnecting students with their parents, which is a vital part of our commitment to their well-being. Working closely with Chatham County Schools, we’re able to refine our approach, improve coordination, and build a stronger framework for ensuring that, even in the most challenging times, we’re prepared to support and protect our community.”
The Standard Reunification training involved over 50 district staff, 20 members of law enforcement, and numerous volunteers from Northwood High School who served as mock parents and students for the purposes of this practice. This full-scale exercise tested personnel and equipment mobilization, as well as coordinated responses between the impacted school staff, reunification team, law enforcement, and first responders.
“The Standard Reunification exercise exemplified our staff’s unwavering dedication to the safety and well-being of students and staff—a key priority of the ONE Chatham Strategic Plan,” said Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent of Chatham County Schools. “Throughout the exercise, our team demonstrated exceptional leadership and problem-solving, adapting swiftly to ensure a seamless and successful reunification process. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and well-prepared team of educators working tirelessly to ensure the safety of all students. This training has further strengthened our crisis response capabilities, reinforcing our commitment to safeguarding the mental health and safety of everyone in our care.”
For more information about the “I Love You Guys” Foundation, please visit https://iloveuguys.org/. For more information on Chatham County Schools, please visit our website, https://www.chatham.k12.nc.us/.
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