In our ongoing commitment to safety and security, the Medford School District will be conducting a multi-agency active shooter drill on June 22 in the vicinity of Oakdale Middle School. The district remarked: “While we hope we never have to implement the lessons learned from this drill, it is our responsibility to take every possible measure to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”
This drill serves several critical objectives, including:
- Building systems and communication channels with other agencies, such as the police and fire departments.
- Providing law enforcement with an opportunity to practice their response to an active shooter situation.
- Enabling hospitals and the school district to practice hospital transport and victim identification procedures.
- Testing the effectiveness of MSD communication networks for families and the wider community.
- Developing an exercise model that can be replicated in other communities.
A significant portion of the drill will focus on the reunification process, which involves reuniting students with their parents or guardians after an emergency. In the event of a real emergency, reunification sites will be communicated to families when they are established. MSD kindly requests parents or guardians to be prepared with a photo ID to ensure the safe reunification of students and families. Following the drill, a video will be shared, outlining important information about the reunification process for families.
To ensure accurate and up-to-date information, please keep your contact details current with your child’s school. You can do so by completing the registration process or by reaching out to your child’s school when the offices reopen in August.
The active shooter drill is just one aspect of the districts comprehensive approach to safety and security in the Medford School District. Other measures include:
- Implementing preventative measures such as mental health support and counseling services.
- Conducting threat assessments when students display signs of self-harm or harm to others.
- Collaborating with external agencies to provide crisis support services to students in need.
- Deploying school resource officers and school marshals.
- Maintaining locked doors and gates.
- Utilizing camera systems.
- Conducting regular drills.
- Providing training for students and staff.
- Utilizing the SAFEOREGON Tip Line (844) 472-3367 for reporting safety concerns.
Residents in the vicinity of Oakdale Middle School are advised to expect increased traffic from law enforcement and first responders on June 22. While some roads will be closed, residents will still be allowed access.
MSD says they extend sincere gratitude to all partners in this upcoming drill, including Medford Police, Medford Fire, City of Medford, Jackson County Emergency Management, Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, Providence Hospital, and many others.
Source: MSD549C
