Unionville-Sebewaing Area School District

Safety in Action: Why We Conduct Emergency Drills

At Unionville-Sebewaing Area School District, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our highest priorities. While we hope to never encounter a real emergency, being prepared is the most effective way to ensure a calm and organized response.

We conduct regular drills to build "muscle memory." When students and staff practice these transitions frequently, the actions become second nature, significantly reducing panic and response time during an actual event.

Our Standard Drills

• Fire Drills: These teach the quickest and safest routes out of the building. We practice these monthly to account for different times of day (passing periods, lunch, etc.).

• Tornado/Severe Weather Drills: Students practice moving to designated "shelter-in-place" areas and adopting the correct protective postures to stay safe from falling debris or high winds.

• Lockdown Drills: Used when there is an immediate threat inside the building. We practice securing classrooms, staying out of sight, and remaining silent.

• Secure Mode (Standard Response Protocol): Formerly known as "Shelter-in-Place" or "Lockout," this is used when there is a potential threat outside the building (e.g., police activity in the neighborhood). School continues as normal inside, but all exterior doors remain locked and no one enters or leaves.

Transparency & Compliance

In accordance with state regulations and our commitment to safety, we maintain a public record of every drill conducted throughout the school year. Below, you will find our Emergency Drill Reports, which include the date, time, and type of drill, along with a brief summary of the results and any areas we have identified for improvement.

Note to Parents: We understand that drills can sometimes cause anxiety. Our staff is trained to lead these exercises with a calm, supportive demeanor to ensure students feel safe while they learn.