More than 30 first responders from approximately a dozen agencies and organizations took part in a four-hour school safety training session Wednesday as the Russell County School District continues preparations for the upcoming school year.
The annual training, held before students and teachers return to the classroom, focused on coordinated responses to emergencies including active shooter incidents, serious threats, and other critical situations that could occur on a school campus.
The session was hosted by the Russell County School District and facilitated by Deputy Jackie Grider, Director of School Safety. Grider, who has served as a School Resource Officer for more than 25 years and has led the district’s school safety program for the past several years, guided participants through a variety of emergency response scenarios.
The training included group discussions and breakout sessions, with participants assigned different emergency situations designed to strengthen communication, coordination, and decision-making among responding agencies.
Grider says the school district maintains comprehensive crisis response plans, but emphasizes those plans are closely guarded for operational security.
He says the district also keeps current maps of every school building and provides them to law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other agencies that could respond during a critical incident.
Superintendent Michael Ford says the annual training helps ensure first responders from across the community are prepared to work together should an emergency ever occur in one of Russell County’s schools.
