Woodland Prepares for Relocation Safety Drill

Gurnee -- Keeping students safe at school is a top priority for Woodland District 50 where safety drills are regularly conducted in the event of an emergency. On May 17, school officials are going a step further with a safety drill and relocating approximately 1,280 fourth and fifth grade students from one school to another located about two miles away.

Woodland's Crisis Management Plan includes procedures for relocating students away from potential harm. A relocation may occur if there is an emergency that could include, but not be limited to a gas leak, loss of water, or a dangerous situation inside the schools.

Woodland has been working closely with the Gurnee Police Department to orchestrate the morning drill where students and staff from the Intermediate School in Gurnee will be relocated to a section of the Middle School in Gurnee and then return to complete the school day.

"The purpose of a safety drill is to practice what we know and learn what we can do better. We are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for students and that means practicing for all types of safety situations," said Mike Witkowski, Principal at Woodland Intermediate.

In a real relocation, parents would be informed where to collect their child, but that aspect of the drill is not being done at this time. We anticipate including the reunification portion of the drill with a future safety exercise.