Oxford School District to hold active attack drill next week

Oxford School District announced Jan. 17 that it will run a coordinated active attack emergency drill next week in partnership with local law enforcement, fire departments, and Lafayette County emergency management agencies. The exercise is designed to test and improve the district’s safety procedures and response times through simulated scenarios involving staff and students.

Officials have not released the specific date or time for the drill, but they say community safety is the priority. The district says local agencies will participate to ensure coordinated responses and clear communication across schools and first responders. Parents and community members are being encouraged to stay informed and support safety initiatives at district campuses.

For Lafayette County families, the drill aims to strengthen practical readiness in the event of a critical incident. Simulated exercises can reveal gaps in communication, evacuation routes, and medical triage that affect how quickly schools and emergency teams can protect children and staff. Coordination with fire and emergency management agencies also gives an opportunity to test ambulance access, staging areas, and how medical care is routed during high-stress events.

At the same time, active attack drills raise public health and equity considerations that local leaders should address. Drills can be stressful for students, particularly younger children, students with disabilities, those who have experienced prior trauma, and families with limited access to counseling resources. Lafayette County residents should ask schools how the district will minimize harm during simulations, what support will be available afterward, and how students with individualized education plans or language needs will be accommodated.

Transparency about how the drill will be conducted and evaluated is also important for community trust. Parents should expect communication from the district about safety protocols, notification procedures and the availability of mental health support after the exercise. Community members can press for post-drill after-action reviews that include clear metrics such as response times, communication breakdowns, and plans to fix identified gaps.

The exercise underscores how school safety intersects with public health, emergency services and social equity. Effective drills do more than rehearse procedures; they should be paired with resources for emotional recovery and accommodations so that all students benefit from safer schools.

What comes next for Lafayette County: the district will proceed with the weeklong planning timeline and families should monitor school channels for specific notices. Community engagement in the weeks ahead will shape how the district balances preparedness with care for students’ mental and physical well-being.