NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On Thursday, June 26, North Adams Public Schools, in collaboration with the North Adams Police and Fire Departments and North Adams Ambulance, conducted a successful, full-scale emergency coordination drill at Drury High School.

 

The daylong event brought together school officials, first responders, and emergency management personnel for a critical training exercise designed to enhance inter-agency preparedness and coordination that would be needed in the event of a major safety incident.

 

The day began with an in-depth morning session where participants were organized into specific teams based on their real-world roles: logistics, operations, communication, incident command, medical response, and reunification. These multidisciplinary teams spent the first half of the day walking through response protocols, identifying areas for improvement, and refining the coordinated action steps that

would be implemented during the afternoon drill.

 

"This exercise gave our teams the opportunity to practice the critical work that happens behind the scenes in an emergency," said North Adams Police Chief Mark Bailey. "I'm proud of the professionalism and collaboration shown by every agency involved. This kind of preparation is essential to keeping our community safe."

 

Following the planning and team coordination phase, the afternoon culminated in a full-scale, scenario-based drill that simulated a significant emergency at the school. Teams executed their respective roles, demonstrating coordination in securing the site, establishing a command center, triaging and treating simulated injuries, and managing parent-child reunification procedures.

 

North Adams Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre noted: "This drill gave us a chance to work through real-life scenarios in real time, and the level of coordination was outstanding. We're all working toward the same goal: keeping our community safe. This kind of training reinforces our shared commitment and readiness."

 

The drill also provided insight for school leaders, particularly regarding internal communication, staff roles during emergencies, and the importance of a strong partnership with local emergency services.

 

"This was a powerful example of collaboration at its best," said Dr. Tim Callahan, Superintendent of North Adams Public Schools. "As the first responders said during our planning for the drill, our schools in North Adams are extremely safe places for learning, but we also must rehearse and prepare for emergencies. Because of our shared efforts, we are better prepared than ever."

 

The agencies involved will now conduct a formal after-action review to identify key takeaways and implement lessons learned. The drill is part of ongoing emergency planning efforts and reflects a deep, community-wide commitment to continuous improvement in school and public safety.