Reunification

Circumstances may occur at a school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. Reunification is one type of controlled release and may be necessary due to a crisis occurring at the school or a hazardous materials event. The standard reunification process is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved.

Based on the event, the reunification will occur at a different location than the school your student attends. You will be notified of the reunification location.

The reunification process is time consuming to ensure student safety and will require patience.

Note: Please be aware that this video mentions Blackboard Connect as the district's mass communication system. However, the district has since transitioned to ParentSquare for notifications to parents.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Safety & Security

425-385-5228

3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201

Reunification Information and FAQs

How does the student reunification process work?

Notification Message
Parent and guardians may be notified by a student’s school or the Everett School District with one or more of the following:

ParentSquare (phone message, email, and/or text)
School or district websites
Social media: Facebook and Twitter
In some cases, students may be asked to send a text message with reunification instructions.

In the event of a reunification, students will not be released at their school. You will be provided with instructions and information of the reunification location and process to reunify with your student.

Due to the various natures of the emergency, it may require crisis management and law enforcement and as a result, reunifying with your student may take some time.

Reunification Location
In your Notification Message parents and guardians will be told where to pick up their student.

Reunification events will require you to pick up your student at a different location than your student’s school.

Parent, Guardians or Authorized Persons Bring Photo Identification
Parents, guardians or authorized persons need to bring their photo identification to pick up their student.

Photo Identification allows school staff to verify parents/guardians/authorized persons coming to retrieve their student(s) to ensure safety of student being released.

Reunification Location Student and Parent/Guardian/Authorized Persons Expectations
Students are asked to do the following:

Wait patiently and quietly at the reunification location
Refrain from sending additional text messages from the reunification location. Keeping the cellular network working may be important for police and fire department response.

Parents, guardians or authorized persons are asked to do the following:

If driving, be careful. There may be heavier traffic and responding police and fire department vehicles. Park your car where indicated, and do not abandon cars.
Go to the Registration Area to complete a Reunification Card for each student being requested.
Please be patient. The reunification process is put in place to protect students and to ensure accountability.

Reunifying with Your Student
Parent/Guardian identification and custody rights are confirmed at the Reunification Check-in Line and Reunification Cards are collected.

Students are retrieved by school staff.
Parents/Guardians/Authorized Persons are sent to the Reunification Area.
In some cases, parents/guardians/authorized persons may be asked to meet for further information.

Interviews and Counseling

In some cases, parents, guardians and authorized persons may be advised that a law enforcement investigation is underway and may be advised that interviews are necessary.
In extreme cases, parents, guardians and authorized persons may be pulled aside for emergency or medical information.

What types of emergency events would require the student reunification process?

Why is the student reunification process used?

What if a parent can’t pick-up their student?

When a parent/guardian/authorized person can’t immediately go to the reunification site, students will only be released to individuals previously identified as one of the student’s emergency contacts. Otherwise, the school will hold students until parents/guardians/authorized persons can pick up their student. You may add or change emergency contacts during the Annual Student Information Update window at the beginning of the school year. If parents/guardians need to adjust the emergency contacts after the Annual Student Information Form has been submitted or after the district update window has closed, the parent/guardian needs to contact their student’s school to adjust emergency contacts.