Last week, the Bayfield School District Safety Team met to focus on a vital topic: how students and families will be safely and efficiently reunited in the event of an evacuation that requires pick-up at an alternative, off-site location.
The meeting was led by Safety Director Jeff Whitmore, with support from Assistant Superintendent Bill Hesford and Superintendent Dylan Connell. Members of the district’s administrative staff, as well as the Transportation, Nutrition, Maintenance, and Technology directors, also participated in the discussion.
Why Reunification Matters
While emergencies are rare, reunification is the critical step of returning children to their parents or guardians after an evacuation. “
We do reunifications every day,” Whitmore explained, pointing to the district’s routine practices at bus stops and schools. “This meeting is about taking those procedures to an off-site location, where different staff members may be required to step in and help.”
Hesford emphasized the importance of dedicating time to the process.
“It’s important that we all focus on this issue so we are prepared if the Safety Team is ever required to run a reunification,” he said.
The Reunification Process
The Standard Reunification Method, developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation, provides the foundation for Bayfield’s plan. In the event of an evacuation, the process will unfold in a series of clearly defined steps:
- Parents and guardians will be directed to a check-in location, separate from the student assembly area.
- Upon arrival, families will be greeted by staff and provided with a Reunification Card.
- Parents/guardians must complete the card with their child’s information and show photo identification to verify they are authorized for pick-up
- Staff will separate the card at the perforation and use one portion to retrieve the student from the assembly area.
- A “Reunifier” will escort the student to their parent/guardian at a designated hand-off area, ensuring controlled lines of sight and smooth pedestrian flow.
This careful sequencing is designed to minimize anxiety and keep the process safe, orderly, and respectful.
What Parents Should Know
Parents play a key role in making reunification successful. The most important things families should be prepared for are:
- Bring photo identification. District staff will not release a student without verifying the adult’s identity.
- Fill out the Reunification Card clearly and completely. The card includes student information, parent/guardian name, and signature, as well as a section for school staff to complete at the time of release.
- Wait patiently. Students will be delivered by district personnel to the reunification area. Parents are asked not to enter student assembly spaces themselves.
- Follow staff instructions. Greeters and reunification staff will be there to answer questions and guide families through the process.
Whitmore noted that the district has prepared a Reunification Box—containing cards, maps, and other resources—that can be quickly deployed to off-site locations if needed. Superintendent Connell added that technology support is also in place, with mobile hotspots ready to ensure communication even in remote situations.
By working through logistics now, the district is strengthening its readiness to care for students and families in an emergency.
“To focus on it, and have all of the right faces in the room together, is important,” Connell said in emphasizing the importance of last week’s meeting.
For more information on the Standard Reunification Method, visit iloveuguys.org. Click to see the Standard Reunification Procedure or to view the Reunification Card parents will use to connect with their children.