Howe ISD

All 13 public school districts in Grayson County have come together to establish a county-wide reunification team to safely reconnect students and families following a wide variety of campus-based emergencies. The partnership is believed to be the first of its kind in Texas. 

The team, made up of four employees from each school district, will deploy across the county to assist districts in the aftermath of any type of situation that requires students and staff to evacuate a school following an emergency to an alternate, secure location. 

The collaboration, conceived and forged through the efforts of the Sherman ISD Police Department, is intended to share resources, reinforce best practices and strengthen safety procedures across all districts. 

“This partnership establishes an excellent framework to support all districts within Grayson County when they face a crisis,” said Heath Wester, Chief of Police for the Sherman ISD Police Department. “Reunification is a promise to families, and this partnership ensures that we can fulfill that promise efficiently and effectively.”

Reunification may be necessary due to a gas leak, fire, school violence incident or damage to a school as a result of severe weather, among other types of emergencies. The county-wide team will use shared language and protocols developed by the I Love You Guys Foundation, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization focused on improving school and community safety through clear, practical emergency preparedness strategies.

The process, known as the Standard Reunification Method (SRM), is a structured, step-by-step approach that emphasizes student safety, coordinated communication and controlled release procedures to reduce confusion, prevent misinformation and ensure every student is released to an approved guardian in a calm, orderly manner. 

The reunification team will receive semiannual training and take part in an annual full-scale exercise to ensure they can effectively respond to the needs of students and families during emergencies. This will also satisfy a new state requirement for districts to undergo yearly emergency response training. 

Following an emergency, the reunification team will coordinate with local law enforcement and the Grayson County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to ensure a safe, organized and orderly reunification process. Before the partnership, the responsibility for reunification fell solely on individual districts.

“As a smaller district, all of our campuses are located on the same property,” said Bells ISD Superintendent Josh Weger. “In the event of a disaster, it is possible that all campuses could be affected simultaneously, which may significantly limit the number of staff available to support reunification efforts. Having a trusted network of nearby districts prepared to assist during such situations is reassuring.”

The Grayson County OEM fully supports the partnership and has donated a trailer that will be dedicated to transporting equipment and other items needed by districts to support reunification. It will be ready to deploy with signs, high-visibility vests, radios and other essential items.

“Emergencies are complex with involvement often from multiple agencies, and coordination is crucial to an effective response,” said Sarah Somers, director of the Grayson County OEM. “This partnership focuses on a difficult but critical element that is often overlooked. Reunification efforts must begin at the very beginning of a response.”

If a reunification is necessary, the affected district will share the location for a reunification via various communications channels. Parents and guardians should bring a photo ID to a designated check-in area at that location, where they will be asked to fill out a form. Students will be brought out individually to be reunited with their guardians.

Districts participating in the Grayson County Reunification Team include: