Educational Service District 112, in partnership with Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency and Ridgefield School District, brought together school districts and emergency response partners from across Clark County for a full-scale, multi-agency emergency exercise on April 24.
Hosted at Ridgefield High School, the exercise provided an opportunity for school teams and first responders to carry out each phase of a simulated hazardous materials emergency response, including evacuation and reunification, in a controlled environment.
More than 100 school staff and partners took part in the exercise. Students from Ridgefield High School and Cascadia Tech Academy also participated, helping to simulate real-world conditions and provide valuable perspective on student experience during an emergency. The ESD 112 Regional School Safety Center played a central role in planning the event, facilitating the drill, and supporting districts in aligning emergency procedures.
Participants check parents in at simulated Family Assistance Center
School staff simulate a family check-in area at a Family Assistance Center
Students are evacuated as part of the emergency simulation
Evaluators observe the practice evacuation
“This work is about supporting student and staff safety across our region,” said Corina McEntire, Comprehensive School Safety Coordinator. “This type of coordinated practice helps teams understand their roles and refine how they collaborate across agencies.”
The exercise builds on ongoing work led by the Regional School Safety Center to support consistent safety practices across the region. Two years ago, districts across the six-county ESD 112 region adopted the Standard Response Protocol to establish shared terminology and support coordinated emergency responses.
Insights from the exercise will be used to continue strengthening school safety procedures across ESD 112, with additional training and exercises planned in the future.
ESD 112 equalizes educational opportunities for learning communities through innovative partnerships, responsive leadership, and exceptional programs.