Grayson County School Reunification Team - Chief Heath Wester, Sherman ISD Police Department
Collaborative Community Partnerships

Following a multi-agency reunification training hosted in 2025, the Sherman ISD Police Department formed the Grayson County School Reunification Team to manage large-scale student reunification after a critical incident. Participating districts include Sherman, Bells, Collinsville, Denison, Gunter, Howe, Pottsboro, S&S Consolidated, Tom Bean, Tioga, Van Alstyne, Whitesboro, Whitewright ISDs. Each district committed personnel to train and respond together under a shared reunification framework, so no campus faces a major incident alone. Local police departments, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Grayson County Office of Emergency Management, fire departments, and EMS also participate.

The partnership is sustained through joint training, shared procedures, and annual exercises. District administrators, teachers, counselors, and support staff train alongside law enforcement, fire, EMS, and emergency management personnel so each understands how their actions support the others. Community partners also participate in exercises and planning meetings, allowing them to understand school procedures. Rather than responding as separate agencies, the partnership creates one coordinated team focused on student care and family reunification.

Memoranda of understanding that define roles, staffing expectations, and resource sharing, including a shared reunification supply trailer and cross-district incident staffing, ensure that all districts have the resources needed to effectively manage student reunification after a critical incident.

This model is scalable and cost-effective, allowing small and large districts alike to meet emergency planning expectations while strengthening relationships with first responders. By collaborating before a crisis, districts build a sustainable response capability that improves safety for all students and families.