Reunification is an all-hazards tool that can and should be used anytime it is no longer safe to remain on school grounds. Practicing the process often will ensure that staff, students, and the community know what it entails when you pick up a student from any location where they are under the care and supervision of school personnel.
One of the easiest ways to begin is to use elements of the reunification process at the elementary level during dismissal. Elementary students are the ones most likely to be picked up by parents/guardians/family members, which allows both groups to become familiar with elements of your process.
Here are some key things to consider when employing parts of your process during dismissal at the elementary level:
- If you will be verifying identification during the reunification process, employ a similar check during pick-up. Some schools send cards home to be filled out, and then they ask for them at pick-up. Alternatively, some schools allow them to be placed on the dashboard. By implementing this requirement, you are training authorized individuals that an ID verification is needed to pick up a student.
- Have your team wear the same vest and role IDs they will wear during the reunification process. This will allow everyone to see the color scheme and become familiar with the roles.
- If possible, use the same data management system you will use to verify authorized individuals during an actual reunification. This can be done by a team member who is out of sight but allows them to get used to using the system and offers you a chance to test it regularly.
- Use the same communication methods you plan to use during reunification. Implement the same radios, cell phones, or runners (if you use messengers) to send and receive information.
Here is an example of how this could look when authorized individuals arrive to pick up their students in their vehicles.
- Authorized individuals arrive in their vehicles.
- A team member working as a Greeter meets them at their vehicle. The team member is wearing a green vest, a green lanyard, and a green role ID. They have a radio to communicate with the other team members.
- The Greeter asks for the school-supplied ID card and verifies its information.
- The Greeter calls over the radio to the Checker who is inside the school building with the database showing authorized individuals. The Greeter tells the Checker who is here and who they want to pick up.
- The Checker verifies they are an authorized individual.
- The Greeter tells the driver to proceed.
- The driver moves up to where the students will exit the building. A reunifier is at that location. The Reunifier is wearing a green vest, a green lanyard, and a green role ID. They have a radio to communicate with the other team members.
- While the driver was moving up, the Checker called the Student Assembly Supervisor, who was in the Cafe, Gym, or Auditorium, over the radio and told them which student was ready to be picked up.
- The Student Assembly Supervisor locates the students and sends them out the door to the reunification location.
- The Reunifier verifies the student’s names and directs them where to go.
- A final team member can act as the Exit Accountant and monitor the students as they are picked up.
Additional Considerations:
- If you use a paper-based verification system, the Greeter can double as a Greeter and a Checker.
- The Reunifier can fill the role of Reunifier and Exit Accountant.
Remember that during an actual reunification, not everyone will have seen the process before. However, some in the community will have and can be your allies. Those who have picked up students will see the similarities and are more likely to remain calm as they understand and are familiar with the process.
