Training Exercise To Simulate School Shooting Aftermath At Loudoun Schools

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A school shooting is something parents hope they will never have to deal with. In Loudoun County, authorities are training at two Ashburn schools on how to respond if one does happen at one of its schools.

The training exercise by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun County Public Schools will focus on reunification of students with families in the scenario of a school shooting. The exercise will be held at Newton-Lee Elementary School and Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn on April 5, which is a student holiday. No students will be involved in the training exercise, and it will be closed to the public and news media, according to LCPS. The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System will also participate in the exercise.

The reunification exercise will be the first of its kind in Northern Virginia.

"No school in our nation is immune from violence, and we must do everything possible to protect our children and those who work to educate and support them," said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman in a statement. "The LCSO has been at the forefront of active shooter incident training, and part of that is the extraction and reunification of those impacted with their loved ones."

During the half-day training, personnel will simulate the aftermath of a shooting, including rescuing students and transporting them to a nearby school to reunite them with families. Role players provided by LCPS staff and school security officers will be involved in the exercise.

"We are proud for LCPS to be at the forefront of efforts such as these," said LCPS Superintendent Aaron Spence in a statement. "We take the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously. This training is an invaluable opportunity to engage in and learn from a scenario we hope we never have to face."

Newton-Lee Elementary and Stone Bridge High Schools will host the exercise from early morning to after noon on April 5. Message boards will be posted in the area of the schools ahead of the exercise to inform the community. Principals at the two schools will inform families about how the training exercise will impact access to the campuses.