Building a Collaborative Standard Reunification Plan

Reporter: Robert A. Hauge III, Ed.D., University of St. Francis 

Panelists: Cheryl Warner, Superintendent, Warrensburg Latham CUSD 11; Mary Vogt, Superintendent, Bement CUSD 5; Jill Reedy, Regional Superintendent, Macon Piatt Regional Office of Education 39 

School safety is increasingly understood as a shared responsibility that cannot rest solely on the shoulders of individual districts. In this session, panelists from central Illinois highlighted a regional, collaborative approach to creating a Standard Reunification Method designed to pool resources, expertise, and personnel across district lines. This strategy is especially critical for small districts with limited capacity to execute complex reunification operations alone. 

The Macon Piatt Regional Office of Education led the work by assembling all 11 school districts within the region, along with available emergency response and community partner agencies, to develop a flexible and scalable framework for reunification. Rather than aiming for a single universal protocol, presenters emphasized that every district is unique in size, staffing, facilities, and community resources. The shared goal was to develop a plan, rather than the plan. This approach offers guidance while allowing local adaptation and still provides for mutual support when districts face circumstances that exceed their individual capacity. 

A major focus of the discussion centered on logistics and site setup, identified as the foundation of any successful reunification effort. Presenters stressed that operations cannot be carried out by a single district team alone, as those staff members may be directly impacted by the same incident requiring relocation. A team-based, cross-district model strengthens operational stability and leadership coverage. To accomplish this, participating districts mapped out clear command center structures, including identification of primary leaders and backup directors. For example, if one district is directly involved in an emergency, leaders from neighboring districts can step into command roles to maintain continuity and coordination. 

Mapping reunification sites in advance was another key takeaway. Teams identified potential locations and planned traffic flow, supervision zones, family intake areas, and documentation stations to reduce confusion during actual implementation. Districts were encouraged to designate more than one reunification site in the event a primary location is compromised or inaccessible. 

Practical preparedness strategies resonated with attendees. Regular training and practice were emphasized as essential to ensure staff confidence and procedural familiarity. Panelists recommended confirming access to technology supports such as internet connectivity and knowing Wi-Fi passwords at all identified sites. In cases where online access is unavailable, districts were advised to maintain binders containing emergency student information, including up to ten authorized contacts per student, to support accurate and timely reunification. 

Throughout the session, presenters reinforced the importance of setting aside ego when building a safety plan. No single department or agency has priority during reunification efforts. The focus must always remain on collaboration and placing student needs first. 

The panel concluded with a reminder that reunification planning must remain an evolving process. Plans should be reviewed, practiced, and revised regularly to reflect new facilities, personnel changes, and community partnerships. This multidistrict, collaborative approach to reunification represents an emerging best practice that strengthens preparedness and ensures districts are not working in isolation when the safety of students and families is at stake.