4:170 - Safety

The District shall strive to conduct all operations, including the education program, in a manner that will promote the safety and security of everyone on District property or at a District event. The superintendent or designee shall develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive safety and security plan that includes, without limitation:

  1. An emergency operations and crisis response plan(s) addressing prevention, preparation, response, and recovery for each school;
  2. Provisions for a coordinated effort with local law enforcement and fire officials, emergency medical services personnel, and the Board Attorney;
  3. A school safety drill plan;
  4. Instruction in safe bus riding practices; and
  5. A clear, rapid, factual, and coordinated system of internal and external communication.

In the event of an emergency that threatens the safety of any person or property, students and staff are encouraged to follow the best practices discussed for their building regarding the use of any available cellular telephones.

Crisis Plan

The District shall maintain a comprehensive safety and crisis plan including provision for: injury prevention; bomb threats, weapons, and explosives on campus; school safety drill program, tornado protection; instruction in safe bus-riding practices; fire safety and prevention; emergency aid; post-crisis management; and responding to medical emergencies at an indoor physical fitness facility.

School Safety Drill Plan

During every academic year, each school building that houses school children shall conduct, at a minimum, each of the following in accordance with the School Safety Drill Act (105 ILCS 128/):

  1. Three school evacuation drills to address and prepare students and school personnel for fire incidents. One of these three drills shall require the participation of the local fire department or district;
  2. one bus evacuation drill;
  3. one severe weather and shelter-in-place drill to address and prepare students and school personnel for possible tornado incidents; and
  4. one law enforcement drill to address a school shooting incident and to evaluate the preparedness of school personnel and students. This drill shall occur no later than 90 days after the first day of school of each year, and shall require the participation of all school personnel and students present at school at the time of the drill, except for those exempted by administrators or school support personnel.

Annual Review

The superintendent or designee will annually review each school building’s emergency operations and crisis response plan(s), protocols, and procedures, as well as each building’s compliance with the school safety drill plan. This annual review shall be in accordance with the School Safety Drill Act (105 ILCS 128/) and the Joint Rules of the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Ill. State Board of Education (ISBE). 29 Ill.Admin.Code Part 1500.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

At least one automated external defibrillator (AED) shall be present in each District attendance center during the school day and during any District-sponsored extracurricular activity on school grounds. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall implement a written plan for responding to medical emergencies at the District’s physical fitness facilities in accordance with the Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act and shall file a copy of the plan with the Ill. Dept. of Public Health (IDPH). The plan shall provide for at least one AED to be available at every physical fitness facility on the premises according to State law requirements.

The District shall have an AED on site as well as a trained AED user: (1) on staff during staffed business hours; and (2) available during activities or events sponsored and conducted or supervised by the District. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that every AED on the District’s premises is properly tested and maintained in accordance with rules developed by the IDPH. This policy does not create an obligation to use an AED.

Emergency Closing

The superintendent is authorized to close the schools in the event of hazardous weather or other emergencies that threaten the safety of students, staff members, or school property.

Student Insurance

The Board may designate a company to offer student accident insurance coverage. The Board does not endorse the plan nor recommend that parents/guardians secure the coverage and any contract is between the parents/guardians and the company. Students participating in athletics, cheerleading, or pompons must have school accident insurance or a parent/guardian statement in writing that the student is covered under a family health insurance plan.

Unsafe School Choice Option

The unsafe school choice option allows students to transfer to another District school or to a public charter school within the District. The unsafe school choice option is available to:

  1. All students attending a persistently dangerous school, as defined by State law and identified by the Illinois State Board of Education.
  2. Any student who is a victim of a violent criminal offense, as defined by 725 ILCS 120/3, that occurred on school grounds during regular school hours or during a school-sponsored event.

The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures to implement the unsafe school

Adopted: April 20, 1998
Revised: February 20, 2007, March 19, 2012; June 17, 2019; February 24, 2025
Reviewed: February 26, 2024

Legal References: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.2, 5/10-20.57, 5/18-12, and 5/18-12.5.
105 ILCS 128/, School Safety Drill Act; 29 Ill.Admin.Code Part 1500.
210 ILCS 74/, Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act.
225 ILCS 320/35.5, Ill. Plumbing License Law.