Jeannette schools to hold emergency drills on Wednesday

Jeannette schools will be the scene of critical incident drills Wednesday in which a combined evacuation and lockdown scenario will test the reactions of school officials and first responders.

The school district, city police, fire department and Jeannette Emergency Medical Services will conduct the drill at 9:10 a.m. at the Jeannette Junior-Senior High School on Florida Avenue at 9:10 a.m. and at 1 p.m. at the McKee Elementary School on Lowry Avenue, said Superintendent Matthew Jones.

“The goal is to improve our already existing plan. These events are designed to rethink and revise our procedures as needed,” Jones said in a statement.

An observation team of teachers, administrators, school board members and city emergency responders will watch but not offer any assistance or advice to those participating in the drill, Jones said. The primary objective is to observe staff and student reaction to the critical information being shared during the drill, he said.

Holding the drills at separate times will allow a more controlled situation and provide administrators and observers a more thorough examination of the schools’ safety procedures, he stated.

Jeannette held a similar drill last October, Jones said.

Police Chief Shannon Binda could not be reached for comment.

A fatal shooting occurred outside the gates of Jeannette’s McKee Stadium during a Sept. 6 football game. No students were involved in the incident in which the victim, Dameian L. Williams, 48, and the suspected shooter, Greg Harper, A. Harper, 40, were involved in a dispute prior to the shooting.