Montgomery County tabletop exercise under House Bill 33 prompted districtwide drills, staff say

Staff told the School Safety & Security Committee that Montgomery County Office for Emergency Management and the county sheriff's office ran a tabletop active-shooter and reunification exercise required by House Bill 33. Martin (staff) told the committee that many campuses attended, brought building maps and worked through campus-specific scenarios with first responders.

Martin said the exercise allowed campuses to "put their campus specific plans to the test," return to campuses to refine plans and address gaps. A campus representative said participating teams identified previously unconsidered details such as bus-ramp egress and staging areas. The presenters said many participants returned with action items to change local plans.

District staff said the county will host a live multi-agency drill in late July or early August to reinforce planning before the school year; staff described an ongoing cadence tied to House Bill 33 that alternates tabletop exercises and live drills in odd/even years. The committee praised the practice while noting the importance of avoiding drills that could alarm students.

No formal action was required for this item; staff described the exercise as an informational briefing and said the district is arranging to bring the tabletop exercise to campuses so every campus can participate and refine plans.