Student Reunification Process

What is the Student Reunification Process?

Due to an emergency event, the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District may be required to release students to parents and guardians through our controlled Student Reunification Process.

Please do not come to the school during an emergency. The campus may not be safe and your vehicle may block emergency crews. Information will be released through district communication tools such as ParentSquare and websites regarding the identified reunification site. This may include an off-site option. 

Please stay calm and follow the instructions given by the reunification staff. This will assist with the process of releasing students in a quick and more orderly fashion.

Student Reunification Process Handout

What types of emergency events would require the Student Reunification Process?

Events requiring this process could include a crisis at the school, lahar event, major earthquake, weather event, power outages, or hazardous materials event.

Why is the Student Reunification Process used?

During emergency events, this organized process protects the safety of the student and provides for an accountable change in custody from school to parent or guardian.

How does the Student Reunification Process work?

Notification Message

Information will be released through district communication tools such as ParentSquare and websites regarding the identified reunification site. This may include an off-site option. 

In the rare instance that students are transported to an off-site location due to an emergency, families will be notified through district communication channels of where and when to pick up your child. We will notify you using our emergency communication systems and the contact information you have previously provided to the school.

Reunification Location

Families will be told in their Notification Message where to pick up their student. 

In the event of a lahar incident, all staff and students from valley schools will be located to Lakeridge Middle School. 

If your student attends a valley school, these schools are also assigned to a hilltop school for sheltering and managing student-parent relocation. Once notified by the district, families should report as soon as practicable to the parent check-in area located at the identified reunification site for your student's school. It is important that families make plans to reunite with their children at the identified relocation site, not at their attendance school, so that the schools can evacuate quickly and safely.

Here's a list of "sister schools":

• Daffodil Valley Elementary - Crestwood Elementary
• Maple Lawn Elementary - Emerald Hills Elementary
• Sumner Middle/Community-Based Transition Program/District-Based Transition Program - Mountain View Middle
• Sumner High/Elhi Hill High School - Bonney Lake High School
• Sumner Early Learning Center - Bonney Lake Elementary

Parent & Guardians Bring Photo Identification

Parents, guardians, and/or designated Skyward emergency contact person(s) need to bring their photo identification to pick up their student.

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

Reunification Location Student and Parent/Guardian Expectations

Here is information about what to expect when picking up your student at a reunification site:

• If driving, be careful. There may be heavier traffic and responding police and fire department vehicles. Park your car where indicated.
• Go to the Reunification Check-in Area to complete a Reunification Card for each student being requested. You will be asked to show photo ID.
• Please demonstrate patience and follow all directions by school staff. The Reunification Process is put in place to protect students and to ensure accountability. Your reunion with your student is our top priority.
• If you are unable to retrieve your child, the school can only release your student to someone who is on the emergency contact list that each family submitted to the school.

Below is a listing of what information is collected on the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Reunification Card.

Title: Reunification Information

Instructions: Have photo identification out and ready to show school district personnel. (Please print clearly). 

Parent/Person Picking up Student Fills Out (Top part of the card):

• Student Name
• Student Grade
• Name of Person Picking Up Student
• Relationship to Student Being Picked Up
• Phone Number of Person Picking up Student
• Signature

School Staff Completes Upon Release of Student (Bottom part of the card):

• Is this person authorized in student information system? (Yes/No)
• Does ID match? (Yes/No)
• Student Name
• Teacher Name/Student Location
• Notes
• Repeat Adult Pick-up Signature for Verification
• Checkout Time
• Staff Initials

Reunifying with Your Student

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

• After check-in, staff will split the reunification card. The top part of the card will be given to a parent to take to parent release. The bottom part will be given to a staff member and a staff runner will be sent to recover your student from the staging area. Note: Parent/guardians/emergency contact(s) are not authorized in the student staging area.
• Parents/guardians are sent to the student release reunification location.
• Parent/guardian identification is checked again before a student is released.
• In some cases, parents/guardians may be asked to meet for further information.

Other Important Reunification Information and Questions

Interviews and Counseling

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

What if a Parent or Guardian Can’t Pick Up Their Student?

When a parent can’t immediately go to the reunification site, students will only be released to individuals previously identified as a student’s emergency contact in Skyward. Otherwise, the school will hold students until parents can pick up their student.

What if the Student Drove to School?

There may be instances where a student is not allowed to remove a vehicle from the parking lot. In this case, parents are advised to recover the student. In other circumstances, high school students may be released on their own, after confirming with staff. Instructions for this type of release will be communicated student drivers and families.

Questions? Contact your school if you have questions about the reunification process.