The Journal

The Montezuma-Cortez School District announced Tuesday that the Re-1 safety team and The Cortez Fire and Police Department will conduct a hazmat practice drill at Cortez Middle School on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m.

“This will not involve chemicals of any nature and is a practice scenario only,” Superintendent Lori Haukeness said in an email to district staff. “This drill is designed to help staff and students in the event of an actual emergency.”

“Preparation is our best line of defense so the more we are prepared in case something happens, the less likely we will have any safety concerns involving injury and things like that,” CMS Principal Kate Ott said. “We are trying to prepare, and safety is our No. 1 concern.”

“We will announce that it is a drill,” Safety Coordinator Jamie Haukeness said. “We want kids and parents to know.”