Mar 4, 2025, 1:59 PM CST
ITHACA, Wis (CIVIC MEDIA) – With school safety at the forefront of our nation’s consciousness, a school district in southwest Wisconsin is being proactive in assuring safe and effective evacuation of the school campus.
The Ithaca School District, along with members of the Richland County Sheriffs Department, conducted two exercises that helped them practice the Family Assistance Plan.
In the event of evacuation, this plan focuses on ensuring that students and staff are safely moved to an alternative location and accounted for.
This event was held with the thought of evacuation for ANY type of situation in mind.
Exercise 1: Everyone present loaded the Ithaca buses to determine an approximate need for transportation should students and staff be required to relocate. Middle School and High School Students paired up with Elementary students to assist Ithaca staff / adults in the process.
Ithaca Safety Committee member Juli Thompson was impressed with the level of responsibility shown by the Ithaca Middle and high School students.
Exercise 2: A simulation to account for all individuals occurred inside the Ithaca buildings. A discussion was held after the exercises, highlighting possible scenarios and expectations.
Students may come home and ask about their emergency contact information. Emergency contact information can be updated by calling the school office and speaking with Sheila or Christine.
The Ithaca student body displayed outstanding behavior throughout the exercises.
Ithaca Superintendent Greg Herbst summed up the morning’s events.
WRCO’s Jo Ann Krulatz has the audio version of this story.
* Thanks to Ithaca Staff and Safety Committee members Paula Boland, Juli Thompson, and Chay Willis in the preparation of this story.
** News story author Adam D. Hess is an employee of the Ithaca School District, WRCO FM, and Civic Media.
Civic Media Inc.
Put us in your pocket.
