Peoria Unified School District will be hosting its first Reunification Drill 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. This drill will involve transporting students off a campus to be reunited with their families at a secondary location.

This is not an active shooter drill.

While this is only a drill, students and staff will be put through a practice scenario set in place by the Peoria Police Department which will involve a real-life situation that would require a school evacuation. Participants in this drill include the seventh and eighth-graders from Oakwood Elementary who have signed a parent permission slip. Parents are also asked to participate in the drill by following the emergency procedures as they receive them from the district and picking up their child following the drill.

To maintain high safety standards, the district runs various safety drills throughout the year to ensure students and employees stay safe in the event of a crisis on a school campus.

Peoria Unified has a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan that addresses school crisis situations. District administrators are trained and drill on each type of emergency – with and without students present. The district has a strong relationship with all local municipalities to ensure our Emergency Operations Plan is up-to-date and thorough.

The plan is updated annually to allow the best outcome in the event of a crisis, with guidance and oversight by the police departments that serve our district.