Although a parent’s first response may be to go to the school, the District asks that parents avoid going to school as this could interfere with our first responders. In some situations, students may be relocated to another facility for safety. In such an instance, Geneva School District’s Emergency Response Plan incorporates a systematic Standard Reunification Method to reuniting children with their parents. The Standard Reunification Method is a protocol that makes this process more
predictable and less chaotic for all involved. The plan was developed by the "I Love You Guys" Foundation.
Due to the unpredictable nature of any emergency, we will only be able to tell you where the Parent/Student Reunification Site is located at the time of the emergency. This will be communicated to you in one or all of the ways noted on the page “
Communication During an Emergency.”
Please understand that the reunification process can be time consuming, so parents/guardians are urged to be patient. We will do everything we can to reunite you with your student as quickly and safely as possible. Therefore, please be advised of the following guidelines when picking up your child from a Parent/Student Reunification Site:
- Upon arrival, please report to the area designated as “Check-In.” District Parent Reunification Team members will greet you and provide you with a Reunification Card.
- You will be required to present valid identification. This step is required to protect your child from any unauthorized individuals attempting to pick up your child. The school will be receiving assistance from other schools or outside agencies and, therefore, may not know you.
- Students will only be released to you or an individual designated on the student's Emergency Information Card. It is critical that the information and phone numbers on your child’s Emergency Information Card is current. We will be using this information to contact you through the District’s emergency notification system with the evacuation process and location for picking up your child. Please keep your contact information current in the Home Access Center.
- You will be required to sign for the release of your child. This is extremely important as it is our only means of ensuring that all students are accounted for at all times. Please do not take your child from the reunification center without signing for their release.
- When a parent can’t immediately go to the reunification site, students will only be released to individuals previously
identified as a student’s emergency contact. Otherwise, the school will hold students until parents can pick up their
student. - Although some students drive themselves to school, there may be instances where a student may not be allowed to remove a vehicle from the parking lot. In this case, parents are advised to recover the student. In some circumstances, high school students may be released on their own.
We recognize that you may be worried and want to be reunited with your child as quickly as possible. However, this system has been established to ensure your child’s safety. You may be jeopardizing your child’s or another child’s safety by not adhering to these procedures.