More than two dozen Adair County School administrators, law enforcement officers, and first responders attended training at the Columbia-Adair Chamber of Commerce building Thursday morning to discuss plans and protocols for a variety of school-related crisis situations.
Fittingly, the annual program was held this year during Safe Schools Week and School Bus Safety Week. Director of Pupil Personnel Robbie Harmon, who also serves as the district’s safety coordinator, led the discussion. “The big reason we do this is because it means that at least once a year we can get people from our school system in the same room as our community partners, talking about school safety” Harmon says. “It’s an opportunity to discuss the ins and outs of our various action plans. We work to be prepared for every situation, but especially those situations that are most likely to occur.”
Topics Thursday included protocol for fires, natural disasters and severe weather, bus accidents, unruly and disruptive school visitors, bullying, and active shooter situations. Representatives from the schools and community brought their diverse expertise to the discussion and made plans that will hopefully never need to be put into practice.
Harmon says the meeting was beneficial for all involved, and hopes the law enforcement officers and first responders feel welcome to visit campus at all times. “We love to see them in our schools—they’re invited anytime,” Harmon says. “We want our students to know them and know that they can trust them when times get tough.”
By Wes Feese
Media Relations, Adair County Schools