In an ongoing and continuous effort to keep the safety of our schools the top priority, Chenango Valley Central School District worked with public safety officials and additional community partners on safety training exercises on July 13.
In collaboration with members of Broome-Endicott SWAT, the morning began with an active shooter training drill held in Chenango Valley High School. The drill included staff and student volunteers. Observers included representatives from Chenango Valley administration and public safety officials.
Following the active shooter drill training, a tabletop exercise was held in the Chenango Valley Middle School/High School Library. The exercise was facilitated by Michael Ponticiello, Director of Broome County Emergency Services, and Michelle Feyerabend, Chenango Valley Central School District Assistant Superintendent. Discussion included a review of the active shooter drill, plans that worked, and what can be improved. It also included further discussion on topics such as evacuation procedures, parent and child reunification, public information, and psychosocial impacts.
Agencies that participated in the tabletop exercise included representatives from Broome County Emergency Services, Broome-Endicott SWAT, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, the Red Cross, the Broome County Office, Broome County Mental Health, NYS DHSES Office of Emergency Management, Broome County Promise Zone. Chenango Valley administrators, staff, SROs, and safety team representatives also took part in the conversation.
The goal of this training was to focus on a review of existing response plans and the functions of each agency during public safety incidents. The collaboration between school personnel and public safety officials is part of ongoing work to help ensure a unified response in the event of a potential safety incident.
The intent is to also continue this type of drill and tabletop exercise with external parties annually in the future. Throughout the school year internal tabletop exercises are also held with school resource officers and internal safety teams.
Chenango Valley is grateful for this collaboration with community partners to help in the continuous efforts to keep our schools and community safe.