Larson discusses school safety

Recently, school safety has been a frequent topic in the news, both locally and nationally. Here in Glenbard District 87, the safety of our students and staff is always a top priority for all of us.

Glenbard’s district-wide Threat Assessment Team continues to research additional safety and security initiatives for our buildings. The Threat Assessment Team has been investigating measures including: device detection, student items, active supervision, and personnel. The team’s four subgroups have been meeting with experts in each of these areas, as well as with vendors and colleagues. We are not alone in this research. Many of our peers in area school districts are having the same safety conversations.

Safety plans must address prevention, intervention and response, and involve having systems and processes in place to mitigate risks.

Currently, Glenbard schools’ layered safety plans include:

Preventative Strategies

• Staff integrate social and emotional learning (SEL) and build strong relationships with students and families. This creates a supportive and trusting environment that fosters emotional regulation, early intervention, and open communication.
• Mental health and suicide prevention support: our school social workers, school psychologists, deans, school nurses, school counselors and speech language pathologists are a critical support for students and their families. These professionals may be among the first to know when a student is experiencing difficulties. We are proactive in identifying students who may need support to prevent a crisis from becoming violent.
• Glenbard Hour: this twice-weekly class period allows students to seek out additional academic support from their teachers, take make-up exams, or participate in a large variety of advisory sessions. Advisory topics include:
  • Skill development in self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship building and social awareness
  • Safety drills
  • Surveys seeking student perspective
• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: PBIS is a proactive approach that schools use to improve school safety and promote positive behavior. The focus of PBIS is prevention, not punishment. Students learn positive behavior strategies and expectations, which contribute to an environment where students feel safe, and teaching and learning continue without interruption.
• Threat Assessment Team: the district team includes school leaders and public safety experts. School-based teams include administrators and various staff members. The teams’ work is ongoing as they discuss and identify safety measures in Glenbard schools.

Emergency Operations Protocols
This year, we updated our emergency operations protocols to feature Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter. These protocols were developed by a national organization called the I Love U Guys Foundation. Students and staff receive training on these protocols throughout the year.

Steps We Take to Mitigate Risks at Our Buildings
One element of our 2025 summer capital projects involves improvements to 200-plus exterior doors and locks at our buildings. This is an additional safety mitigation layer.

Current risk mitigations include:

• Locked exterior doors and limited entry points.
• Comprehensive safety protocols that include Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter.
• IDs for every student and staff member.
• School Resource Officers from local police departments at each high school.
• Required visitor check-in and background check at security desk.
• Trained security guards throughout each school.
• Integrated active monitoring security camera system.
• Regular review of school safety plans with students, staff, and first responders.
• Work closely with local law enforcement to ensure there is good communication.
• Teams at the building and district levels meet to discuss any student concern, involve the parents/guardians, and partner with first responders.
• Hired a third-party agency to complete a comprehensive school safety study.
• Completion of all required state safety drills and supplemental training for students and staff.
• Upgraded outdoor lighting to improve visibility.

Reporting Concerns & Social Media
One of the most critical safety factors is the culture and climate of our schools that foster an environment where students are comfortable reporting a concern to a trusted adult at school. We routinely emphasize the importance of “if you see something, say something.”

It’s also crucial to encourage students to “report, not repost” troubling messages they see on social media. It is very helpful for families to have ongoing conversations with their children about the responsible use of social media.

Next Steps
Ongoing research is necessary to determine what additional safety mitigations will be implemented in Glenbard. Recommendations and updates will be brought to the Board of Education in order for the schools to add additional layers to their existing safety plans. An update to the board regarding increased mitigations is anticipated by the end of December 2024.

School safety is a team effort that involves our staff, students, families and community. It touches so many different aspects and people – from our first responders, to our local businesses, to our neighbors down the street and more. We appreciate the community’s continued support of Glenbard high schools.

Sincerely,
David F. Larson, Ed.D.
Superintendent