School Safety

School Safety and Crisis Preparedness

District 205 remains committed to providing safe and welcoming learning environments for all students and staff. School safety is a topic that we take extremely seriously and we are sensitive to how the topic may impact each member of our community differently. Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 continuously refines Its crisis response planning measures to constantly be vigilant about the safety of Its students and staff. The District 205 Safety Committee, composed of representatives from District 205 schools, District 205 administration, members of the Elmhurst Police And Fire Departments, Elmhurst Hospital and The District 205 Board Of Education, meets quarterly to discuss any updates and/or current safety topics for awareness as well as participates In annual crisis simulations.

The Following information is shared to provide you with the details regarding the steps that we take to ensure safe learning environments, how staff are trained to manage reports of any kind, how the District will communicate during an emergency and what families can do at home to help ensure that this is a topic that is always being discussed.

Please remember that you should always “Report, Don’t Repost” threats you may see online.  Stopping the further dissemination of a threat both aids investigation and limits the potential impact of threats that, while alarming, are not intended to be followed through.

View the recent conversation between Chief McLean and Dr. Campbell regarding school safety in District 205:

D205 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS 

In the event a situation arises within a school community, District 205 will notify the impacted school community.  We will always do everything we can to ensure that students and staff are safe and appropriate measures and supports are being provided. It is important to know that state and federal privacy laws clearly outline what we are legally permitted to share regarding students, including disciplinary actions, attendance or any other information pertaining to student privacy.  

Situations that involve only one school community will be communicated directly to that school community.  In the event there is a situation that encompasses additional areas, communications will be shared with all communities that are impacted. 

Depending on the level of emergency, notifications will be shared with the community through multiple channels including email, text message, and phone calls. In the event of an extremely heightened active threat, information will also be posted on the homepage of our District and school websites, all District social media pages (Facebook, Instagram and X).

INVESTIGATING THREATS

Members of our school and District teams are trained to respond to any report through the use of the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG). In the event that a student, or anyone else, directly or indirectly threatens violence of any kind or uses language that insinuates the possibility of violence of any kind, depending on the outcome of an investigation, discipline is issued in accordance with Board Policy. 

The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment (CSTAG) is a highly comprehensive, evidence-based program used by school counselors, administrators, social workers, and other key team members to determine the credibility of a threat to the school environment.  Once initiated, the CSTAG model directs staff through the following steps to be taken: 

  • Step 1. Evaluate the Threat 

  • Step 2. Attempt to resolve the threat as transient 

  • Step 3. Respond to a substantive threat

  • Step 4. Conduct a safety evaluation for a very serious substantive threat

  • Step 5. Implement and monitor the safety plan

All staff members are able to make referrals to any key team member that has been trained on the CSTAG model and knows how to react if a person makes a threat of violence against themselves or others. All threats are taken seriously.

D205 AND ELMHURST POLICE DEPARTMENT PARTNERSHIP

Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 continuously refines its crisis response planning measures to constantly be vigilant about the safety of all students and staff.   As part of that planning, the District Safety Committee meets quarterly and is composed of representatives from District 205 Schools and administration, members of the Elmhurst Police And Fire Departments, and the Board of Education. 

Elmhurst School District 205 works closely with the Elmhurst Police and Fire Departments throughout the year. From our partnership with the Elmhurst Police Officers that serve as our School Resource Officers, to the multiple safety training scenarios that are performed with our schools and District Office each year, the Elmhurst Police Department and District 205 are committed to working together to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.  

Through this partnership there are various steps  taken throughout each year to ensure safety.  

  • We partner with the Elmhurst Police Department to train and prepare for the possibility of school related incidents on a regular basis. 

  • Blue Point System/panic buttons are in all schools, providing instant notification to the Elmhurst Police Department in case of an emergency.

  • Each school has been updated to provide secure vestibule entrances. 

  • Two Elmhurst Police Officers serve as dedicated School Resource Officers for D205 schools.

  • Safety FAQs have been created in partnership with the Elmhurst School District and the Elmhurst Police and Fire Departments.

  • All 13 schools, as well as the Transition Center, participate in annual safety drills, including: three fire drills (emergency evacuation), bus evacuation, lockdown in conjunction with the Elmhurst Police Department, and tornado.

FACILITY SAFETY MEASURES

  • Online monitoring systems are In place, providing additional opportunities for awareness.

  • Each school has been updated to provide secure vestibule entrances. 

  • All school doors are locked. 

  • All visitors are required to check in at the main door of all District 205 buildings for visual identification. They will be required to state their name and purpose of their visit as well as provide a driver's license or state ID that is then scanned against a statewide database.

  • School Resource Officers, who are also Elmhurst Police Officers, are monitoring our schools and collaborating with our school teams daily.

DISCUSSIONS IN THE CLASSROOM

  • Alongside academics, each Elmhurst District 205 School Learning Community is strongly committed to developing a safe and healthy environment where everyone thrives academically, socially, and emotionally.

    • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in D205 is focused on understanding ourselves and the world around us to encourage lifelong learning. SEL equips all community members with tools for success in their everyday lives by focusing on the following competencies for students to develop and hone:

      • Self-awareness

      • Self-management

      • Responsible Decision-making

      • Relationship Skills

      • Social Awareness

PREVENTION: SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING

The most important thing to remind students is that if they see something, they always say something.  Whether through our Quick Tip system, talking directly to a trusted adult or calling 911, it is important to do that as quickly as possible.

DUPAGE HEALTH - MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

  • Click Here For Dupage Health - Mental Health Resources