From McHenry County:
ROE Unites Schools and County Offices to Share Resources through the McAid Alliance
WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The McHenry County Regional Office of Education is uniting the Emergency Management Agency, State’s Attorney’s Office, and all local school districts, to share resources when
responding to emergencies.
The McAid Alliance is an intergovernmental agreement amongst the McHenry County Regional Office
of Education, the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, and all school districts in McHenry County, said Regional Superintendent of Schools Diana Hartmann.
Alliance members will share aid, without liability, if they can assist in the event of natural or man-made disasters.
Grants that are awarded to the alliance can be shared among members to pay for training and materials – a collaboration which will decrease overall costs. Hartmann began training efforts by offering all districts a certified threat assessment trainer within their district for four years.
“McHenry County has been a statewide leader when it comes to sharing services and coordinating resources, and I can think of no cause more important than the safety and well-being of our schoolchildren,” Hartmann said.
All superintendents from the 18 school districts and the Special Education District of McHenry County that the ROE serves have expressed support for McAid and have either already brought McAid before their boards for a vote or intend to do so in the coming weeks, Hartmann said.
The districts have a combined 90 school buildings and related facilities.
The McAid Alliance will streamline response times and ensure the most effective deployment of resources in times when every second counts.
Emergency Management Agency Director David Christensen said, “In an emergency, teamwork and strong coordination makes all the difference,” Christensen said.
“We have long worked with schools to develop their emergency response plans – through the McAid Alliance, we can take our response planning to the next level.”
The Emergency Management Agency is also participating in the alliance to bring its own resources and expertise to bear should the need arise while the State’s Attorney’s Office offered legal guidance when it came to crafting the intergovernmental agreement.
“The State’s Attorney’s Office is proud to stand with our Regional Office of Education and local school districts in this vital collaboration,” State’s Attorney Randi Freese said.
“By joining this intergovernmental effort as a cooperating agency, we reaffirm our shared commitment to protecting our community, including our students and educators. True safety depends on preparation, coordination, and partnership, and this agreement represents all three. We will continue to do our part to ensure every child and staff member in our schools have the safest environment possible.”
The McHenry County Regional Office of Education serves Nippersink School District 2, Fox River Grove School District 3, Johnsburg School District 12, McHenry School District 15, Riley Community Consolidated School District 18, Alden-Hebron School District 19, Cary School District 26, Harrison School District 36, Prairie Grove School District 46, Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47, Harvard Community Unit School District 50, Marengo Community High School District 154, Community High School District 155, McHenry High School District 158, Marengo-Union Elementary Community School District 165, Woodstock Community Unit School District 200, and the Special Education District of McHenry County.
