Parent Email, Evacuation & Reunification Drill; Oct. 18, 2026

 Parent & Guardians, 

We are still looking for a few more volunteers for Tuesday’s evacuation and reunification drill.  The evacuation is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:15-8:30.  The reunification drill will commence at approximately 9:15 once all students have been evacuated to Grace Church. We are in need of five or six more parents to participate in the process in order for the reunification team to adequately train and prepare. 

If you are interested in participating, please contact me ASAP at either chris.carter@mcusd709.org or 309-284-5010.  Participants can plan to arrive at Grace Church between 9:15-9:30. The process should only take a few minutes, but this is a critical aspect of our crisis preparation.  

We expect our drill to be completed by 10:00 with all students back in class.

Chris Carter
Principal  

Original Email from last week:

Dear Morton Junior High School Families,

Illinois School Code (School Safety Drill Act) requires that all schools prepare and practice for a full school evacuation as part of their school drill procedures. Throughout the school year, we practice drills for a variety of purposes.  We conduct annual fire drills, severe weather drills, and bus evacuation drills.  Schools are also required to work in collaboration with local law enforcement to plan and practice a full scale evacuation drill. This fall, MJHS will be participating in a full school evacuation drill in collaboration with the Morton Police Department.  This drill will take place on Tuesday, October 20 at approximately 8:15am.  We anticipate that the drill will last less than two hours from beginning to end.  Upon returning to school, students will go about their day with an adjusted class schedule.  

Every student, teacher, and staff member (with the exception of certain school office personnel) will be evacuated from the building and travel by bus to Grace Church.  On Tuesday, October 20, our school will be placed in a “Lockdown” at approximately 8:15am, and the Morton Police Department will secure our building. They will then facilitate the safe evacuation of all students to our off site location.  Medical support will be available at MJHS and also at Grace Church for any student who may need assistance.

Buses will be lined up beginning at 8:00 and ready to transport all students and staff from MJHS to Grace Church as part of the drill.  Once all students and staff are evacuated to Grace and accounted for there, we will all return by bus to MJHS. 

Please note that any students who arrive after 8:15am when the drill has begun will remain in the main office for the duration of the drill.  There will be no other adults, visitors, or volunteers permitted to enter the school while the drill is ongoing.  We encourage you to avoid scheduling any appointments for your child for the morning of Tuesday, October 20.

In order to be ready to leave the building in an emergency situation, we practice these situations so that students and staff are prepared. We would evacuate students and adults from the building for a variety of reasons-fire, spill/leak, structural failure, etc. The purpose of these drills is not to scare students or worry anyone.  Participating police officers will be from the Morton Police Department and will be wearing normal uniforms.  It is our goal to conduct this drill as effectively and efficiently as possible.     

Evacuating students is only half of the process during an emergency.  The second part is reunification.  In order to be as prepared as possible we are asking for a few volunteers to participate in this drill.  Participating parents would simply meet us at Grace Church and engage in the reunification process.  If you are interested in volunteering, please call or email me and I can provide additional details.  

Please reach out if you have any questions regarding this drill. We appreciate your help to ensure your student arrives on time for school on Tuesday, October 20.

Sincerely,

Chris Carter
Principal