The West Linn-Wilsonville School District hosted its third joint-safety meeting of the 2018-19 school year on Feb. 13, joining first responders, board members, administrators, First Student bus partners, and others to discuss and practice around the topic of reunification.

What is Reunification?

Reunification is the process of controlled release of students. A reunification may be required if certain emergency events occur at a school, such as threats to safety in the form of weapon threats, bomb threats, or building evacuations due to extreme weather or earthquake situations.

The school district works in collaboration with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, West Linn Police Department, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, and other community partners in the event of reunification. Safety agencies use the Standard Reunification Method, which is based on protocols established by the I Love U Guys Foundation.

Student and Parent Reunification is a protocol that makes the process of student release more predictable and less chaotic for all involved. Because a controlled release is not a typical end of school day event, a reunification may occur at a different location than the school a student attends. This is called an OFF-SITE reunification. The location of an off-site reunification will be announced to parents once students have arrived and reunification center has been established. The district does not pre-announce the off-site reunification locations because it is critical that district personnel can set up the location and that students have arrived before the reunification process begins. It is important to understand that the reunification location will be in a place where students are safe and being taken care of.

Notification of a Student and Parent Reunification: In the event that reunification is required, parents are advised to stay home until receiving communication from the district or law enforcement. This allows law enforcement and first responders to better secure the site prior to a controlled release reunification process. The reunification process will only begin once law enforcement has decided it’s safe to do so.

Parents will be notified about a reunification process in a number of ways. Parents will receive a broadcast phone message, text alert, and ListServ email, including instructions of what to bring and where the reunification center is. Parents are required to bring ID and will be asked to fill out a reunification form at the reunification site prior to their student’s release. If a parent can not immediately get to the reunification site, a student’s emergency contact may also pick up a student. To update this information, access FamilyLink and/or contact the school office whenever contact information changes.

For more information about the reunification process, please watch this student-parent reunification video.

Three Rivers Charter School was selected for the 2018 American Excellence Award amongst all its peers and competitors by the US Institute of Trade & Commerce (USITC) on Feb. 11.

Each year the USITC conducts business surveys and industry research to identify companies that have achieved demonstrable success in their local business environment and industry category. They are recognized as having enhanced the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and community. Companies of this caliber enhance the consumer driven stature that USITC strives to recognize.

Three Rivers Charter School has consistently demonstrated a high regard for upholding business ethics and company values. This recognition by USITC marks a significant achievement as an emerging leader within various competitors and is setting benchmarks that the industry should follow.

As part of the industry research and business surveys, various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the selected companies in each category. This research is part of an exhaustive process that encapsulates a year-long immersion in the business climate of its industry.