Northwest Local School District (NWLSD) will once again partner with Colerain Township First Responders and the Hamilton County Communications Center to conduct critical incident training aimed at strengthening school safety and emergency preparedness. The training will take place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Northwest High School.
“Safety remains our highest priority,” said Darrell Yater, Superintendent of Northwest Local School District. “This training is an essential part of our commitment to keeping students, staff, and our community safe. We deeply value our strong partnership with Colerain Township First Responders and Hamilton County as we continue to strengthen our emergency preparedness.”
The all-day training will simulate various school-based emergency scenarios, giving district staff and administrators hands-on experience in coordinating with first responders during critical incidents. The training is not open to the public.
This annual summer exercise is designed to:
Enhance communication between school personnel and emergency responders
Refine coordinated response strategies
Ensure that staff understand their roles during emergency situations
Participants, including both school staff and first responders, will act in the roles of students and staff members to gain multiple perspectives during the drills. Each scenario will be followed by a debriefing session to review lessons learned and discuss improvements.
To create a realistic training environment, simulated gunfire using blank rounds will be used, and emergency vehicles and personnel will be on-site throughout the day. Community members should not be alarmed by their presence.