Running for their life: Students and teachers rehearse evacuation

For the fifth consecutive year, St. Elizabeth R-IV School District has rehearsed quick evacuations as their response to intruders.

Students and teachers ran out of the building, which includes classrooms for all grades from pre-K to 12, to nearby safe zones. After the run, school buses came around to pick up everyone to return to class.

“We’ve done this a long time,” said District Superintendent Tori Taylor. “The first year was a little scary, but after that we’ve learned how to approach it so it’s not so scary.”

Wednesday’s evacuation drill took students and staff about four and half minutes, according to Taylor.

Taylor, a strong supporter of teaching the run-hide-fight strategy of emergency response, is leaving the position of superintendent after this year. It is not clear if the incoming superintendent, Dan Kempker, will continue the drills.