LAURENS COUNTY
SCHOOL DIST. 56
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
By PresenterMedia.com
Parent / Student
Reunification Process
RESPONSE
Parent/Student Reunification
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Participants will understand the policies for student
release in an emergency
Participants will be able to apply the procedures
for releasing students
Participants will identify locations for parent checkin and release gates
Participants will list supplies and forms necessary
to successfully reunite parents with students
Incident Command System
Student Care
Student/Parent
Reunification
Moral and Legal Responsibilities
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On a daily basis, parents entrust schools with the
safety, health and well-being of their children. Once
a student steps on campus or a bus, the school is
morally and legally responsible for that child until
they are picked up by a parent or returned home by
bus.
This responsibility remains, even when disaster
strikes and circumstances require schools to keep
students beyond the normal school day.
Imagine the Nightmare…
What Do You Think...
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The students are feeling?
The parents are feeling?
The parent/student reunion team members
are feeling?
Parent / Student Reunification Process
Parent
Parent & Student
Check-In
Gate
Parent
Release
Gate
Runner
Off Limits Area
Off Limits Area
Runner
Off Limits Area
Runner & Student
Student
Care Area
Reducing the Stress Before The
Emergency
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District, Parents, and Students
- Have student release forms up to date and on hand
 Teach parents and students the policies
and procedures for releasing students.
 Help parents understand what to expect
on the day of the emergency
 Involve parents and students in practice
drills
 Have copies of the policies and procedures pre-printed to
give to parents while waiting to reunite with their child.
Before The Disaster
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Know your parent/student population
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How many students live within walking distance to
the school?
How many families have an adult at home during
the day?
How fast will they arrive?
This might be a good resource for volunteers,
provided you identify and train them before
the event.
Before the Disaster
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File forms by alphabetical 
order in a portable box
Identify the members of the
student/parent reunion team
Identify a group of students
to train as runners for the
reunion process
Identify the location of the 
check-in gate and the
reunion gate
Identify the team
leaders for the student
care team Identify the
supplies necessary to
effectively do you job
Provide training for the
team members and
student runners
Before the Disaster
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Create a plan for team
members to practice
the procedures.
Start with little or no
stress exercises and
work toward involving
the team in an all
school drill.
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Example:
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1. Talk through the
procedures
2. Practice releasing
students from
classrooms
3. Invite a small group of
parents to assist with a
practice drill at the end of
a school day
4. Practice procedures as
part of an all school drill.
During The Event
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Follow the school’s emergency procedures
for safety and accountability.
After students are accounted for, team
members hand off their class to their “buddy
teacher” and report to their assigned areas
for deployment
When deployed, report to office to get
supplies and equipment.
Begin releasing students according to school
policies and procedures.
Knowledge can reduce stress!
What are some ways you can inform the
parents that are waiting to be reunited with
their children about the status of the school
and the procedures for releasing their
children?
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AlertNow
eAlerts
District Website
Radio/TV
Social Media*
Parent/Student Reunification
Procedures
-At the beginning of school,
have parents complete the
Parent/Child reunification
Form
-At the beginning of school,
complete the top portion of
the student runner form and
staple it to the disaster
release form. Keep these
forms in a portable box to
be used at the parent
check-in gate.
-Parents report to “Parent
Check-In” location
-Parent requests student to be
released and show
Identification
-Staff checks ID and
completes Student
Emergency Release form
-Staff files it alphabetically
Student Release Forms
Yearly Updated Release Form
Emergency Release Form
Activity
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Objectives:
 Participants are able to practice the procedures of
parent/student reunion
Supplies
 Disaster Release Form and Student Runner
Forms completed for each bear
 Signs check-in and release tables
 Basic office supplies (pens, pencils, clipboards,
stapler)
Parent / Student Reunification Process
Parent
Parent & Student
Check-In
Gate
Parent
Release
Gate
Runner
Off Limits Area
Off Limits Area
Runner
Off Limits Area
Runner & Student
Student
Care Area
Activity (cont’d)
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Procedures
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Select volunteers to be reunion gate staff, checkin gate staff, runners, and student care staff.
Practice the procedures as outlined in the job
description.
Wrapping it Up…
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Parent/student reunion is a vital component of the school
disaster plan.
Parent, students, and staff need to be informed of the procedures
prior to the disaster
The Parent/student reunion team needs several opportunities to
practice the procedures prior to a real event.
School District have a legal obligation to safeguard their students
IF YOU FAIL TO
PLAN…
YOU PLAN TO
FAIL