Inside the Frankfort Police Department’s training room on Friday morning, school leaders, first responders, and county officials gathered around tables to do something they hope they never have to do for real: plan for worst-case scenarios.
The Clinton County School Safety Commission, chaired by Rossville Consolidated School District Superintendent Dr. Jim Hanna, met to review past emergencies and sharpen local preparedness. Representatives from Indianapolis EMS, Andrew Bowes and Laura Herring, walked members through five high-profile school-related incidents that tested emergency services across Indiana.
The examples ranged from frightening to sobering. A massive student fight that forced hospitals to treat nearly 30 young people. A pepper spray release that sent more than 20 students scrambling for fresh air in just minutes. A batch of drug-laced gummies that sickened a half-dozen teenagers. A high school construction accident caused a carbon monoxide scare. And, most harrowing, an elementary school shooting that brought multiple police and EMS units to the scene with little clear information at the outset.
“Every one of these cases reinforces how fast things escalate and how important coordination is,” Bowes told the group. “If hospitals aren’t notified in time or responders don’t have clear communication, the consequences multiply.”
After reviewing the incidents, members of the commission turned to hands-on tabletop exercises. One scenario asked them to imagine a runaway vehicle crashing into a high school classroom, leaving structural damage, injuries, and hazardous spills. Another required them to respond to a crop-dusting plane crashing in an elementary school parking lot, injuring students, damaging cars, and blocking emergency access.
Discussions grew intense as participants debated how to evacuate students safely, track accountability, communicate with parents, and direct emergency crews. Dr. Hanna said these exercises highlight the reality that no single agency can handle a crisis alone.
“What these scenarios show us is the value of everyone at the table—schools, police, fire, EMS, hospitals,” Hanna said. “When the unexpected happens, we have to be ready to act together.”
The commission identified several next steps, including updating reunification procedures for students and parents, ensuring counseling support after traumatic events, and reviewing mutual aid agreements between schools and emergency responders. Members also emphasized the need for unified communication with families and the community during emergencies.
As the meeting wrapped up, local officials reaffirmed their shared mission: to keep students safe, even under the most unpredictable circumstances.
“Safety is not just about drills,” Hanna said. “It’s about relationships, planning, and making sure we never stop improving.”
The commission adjourned just before 11 a.m., but its work, members agreed, is far from finished.