Safety & Emergency

Crisis Response Plans are an important tool used in District 65 to help protect the safety of our school communities. These plans help our school leaders and staff in proactively knowing what steps to take in the event of a crisis. Parents/Guardians should be familiar with the different types of emergency situations so that if a situation does arise, they have an understanding of how the district will respond.

To help ensure understanding, District 65 no longer uses safety codes in a crisis but instead uses plain language to coordinate response efforts. In each of these situations, an all-clear will be given either by law enforcement or district officials and regular operations will resume.

Safety drills are held throughout the school year to practice response in the event any of these situations occur.

Secure and Teach (Soft Lockdown)

A Secure & Teach may be implemented when a potentially dangerous situation exists within the community but not on school grounds. This may be used in response to a nearby safety incident which requires response by law enforcement. It may also be used in the event of a medical emergency within the school.

• All exterior doors will be checked and secured.
• Students or staff who may be outside for recess, physical education, or other activities will be brought inside of the school.
• No one will be allowed to enter or exit the building, other than law enforcement or district officials. We ask that you do not try to come to the building to pick up your child until an all-clear is given.
• Students and staff may move about the interior of the building which may include moving to other classrooms, lunch, restrooms, etc.

Lockdown

A Lockdown will be implemented when a potentially dangerous situation exists on the school campus or within close proximity to the school. This may include a person with a weapon or a threat to safety within the school.

• All exterior doors will be checked and secured. All interior classroom doors will be locked and secured.
• Students or staff who may be outside for recess, physical education, or other activities will be brought inside or to an alternative safe location.
• No one will be allowed to enter or exit the building, other than law enforcement or district officials. We ask that you do not try to come to the building to pick up your child until an all-clear is given.
• Students and staff will remain within their classrooms or common space and will not be allowed to move throughout the hallways or other spaces.

Evacuation

An evacuation may be necessary when a potentially dangerous situation occurs within the school building and it is safer for students and staff to be outside of the building or escorted to an alternate site. This may include a fire, gas leak, or threat.

Depending on the situation, students may be able to return to the building quickly or may need to be escorted to an alternate location.

• School staff will escort students out of the building in an orderly fashion and to a designated safe place on school grounds or a predetermined nearby location.
• Alternate sites have been designated for each District 65 school during an evacuation. These locations are not shared publicly prior to an emergency in an effort to maintain student safety.
• In some instances school may be held at an alternate site or an early dismissal may be called and parents/guardians may come pick up their child. Students will never be sent home without parent/guardian notice and without adult supervision.

Shelter-in-Place

A Shelter-in Place may be called in the event of a weather-related emergency.

• Students will be escorted to a designated safe location within the building away from windows.
• All students and staff who are outdoors will be brought inside and to a safe location.

Questions about Crisis Responses? Please visit our Crisis Response FAQ for more information.

All Illinois schools are required to host several safety drills annually. These are in accordance with the Illinois School Safety Drill Act and school crisis response plan. These drills help set minimum expectations and help students and staff to become familiar with responses in the event of an emergency. Drills may require the presence and support of first responders from the Evanston and Skokie police and fire departments.

Efforts are made to ensure drills (at least one of each type) is conducted early on in the school year. Each drill is analyzed to help improve preparedness and response. Required drills include:

• (3) fire drills
  • One drill must have the local fire department present to observe and provide direction and feedback;
• (1) severe weather drill (commonly referred to as a shelter-in-place or tornado drill)
• (1) bus evacuation drill that is conducted with the Transportation Department;
• (1) law enforcement drill that includes observation by the local police department (commonly referred to as a lockdown or active shooter drill)

State law requires that any law enforcement drills (including lockdown or active shooter drills) be communicated in advance to parents/caregivers and also to students and staff prior to the drill commencing. Drills will not mimic a real-life situation and will be conducted in an age and developmentally appropriate manner. Parents/caregivers may opt their child opt of participating by contacting their building principal.

Our families are important partners in our efforts to keep students safe during and after an emergency situation. In today’s world, we know safety-related events are both stressful and extremely scary. Our first priority is always the safety of our students. While it’s likely very difficult, we ask for your help in ensuring law enforcement and school/district officials can do their jobs in helping to keep students safe and secure the area.

In the event of an emergency, below are a few things to keep in mind that will help in maximizing safety within our school community:

• We know it's hard, but try your best to remain calm. Wait for official information released from the district and your child’s school. Official updates will be sent through the district’s mass notification system and may include phone, text messages, and emails. Information will be posted to the D65 website and official social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram) 
• Wait to be contacted with next steps. Do not come to the school or emergency site, unless otherwise directed. We need to ensure the area is safe and all students are accounted for.
• While we will make every effort to provide information as quickly as possible, our primary goal is securing the building and working to ensure the safety of our students and staff. We will inform families of the incident once the situation has been stabilized and we have accurate information to share.
• Avoid calling the school or district office for more information. Phone lines must remain clear and staff must be available to support.
• Don’t fuel the rumor mill and rely on official information sources. Oftentimes, information on social media is inaccurate or incomplete.
• Keep emergency contact information up-to-date. Changes can be made via the PowerSchool Parent Portal, by contacting the school office, or emailing registrationinfo@district65.net.
• Read emergency communications in their entirety and follow any instructions closely. In the event a reunification is necessary, please follow signage and bring an ID so that we can safely release your child to you.
• Trust us to keep your child safe, just like you do on a regular school day. We know this can be extremely difficult. Please understand that attempting to pick up your child in the midst of an emergency situation can send a message to them that their school is not a safe place. 

(Source: National Association of School Psychologists)

High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.

1. Reassure children that they are safe. Emphasize that schools are very safe. Validate their feelings. Explain that all feelings are okay when a tragedy occurs. Let children talk about their feelings, help put them into perspective, and assist them in expressing these feelings appropriately.
2. Make time to talk. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. Be patient; children and youth do not always talk about their feelings readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. Some children prefer writing, playing music, or doing an art project as an outlet. Young children may need concrete activities (such as drawing, looking at picture books, or imaginative play) to help them identify and express their feelings.
3. Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate.
   • Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be balanced with reassurances that their school and homes are safe and that adults are there to protect them. Give simple examples of school safety like reminding children about exterior doors being locked, child monitoring efforts on the playground, and emergency drills practiced during the school day.
   • Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to provide safe schools.
   • Upper middle school and high school students will have strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about how to make school safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. Emphasize the role that students have in maintaining safe schools by following school safety guidelines (e.g. not providing building access to strangers, reporting strangers on campus, reporting threats to the school safety made by students or community members, etc.), communicating any personal safety concerns to school administrators, and accessing support for emotional needs.
4. Review safety procedures. This should include procedures and safeguards at school and at home. Help children identify at least one adult at school and in the community to whom they go if they feel threatened or at risk.
5. Observe children’s emotional state. Some children may not express their concerns verbally. Changes in behavior, appetite, and sleep patterns can also indicate a child’s level of anxiety or discomfort. In most children, these symptoms will ease with reassurance and time. However, some children may be at risk for more intense reactions. Children who have had a past traumatic experience or personal loss, suffer from depression or other mental illness, or with special needs may be at greater risk for severe reactions than others. Seek the help of mental health professional if you are at all concerned.
6. Limit television viewing of these events. Limit television viewing and be aware if the television is on in common areas. Developmentally inappropriate information can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children. Adults also need to be mindful of the content of conversations that they have with each other in front of children, even teenagers, and limit their exposure to vengeful, hateful, and angry comments that might be misunderstood.
7. Maintain a normal routine. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and promote physical health. Ensure that children get plenty of sleep, regular meals, and exercise. Encourage them to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.

Suggested Points to Emphasize When Talking to Children

• Schools are safe places. School staff works with parents and public safety providers (local police and fire departments, emergency responders, hospitals, etc.) to keep you safe.
• The school building is safe because … (cite specific school procedures). We all play a role in the school safety. Be observant and let an adult know if you see or hear something that makes you feel uncomfortable, nervous or frightened.
• There is a difference between reporting, tattling or gossiping. You can provide important information that may prevent harm either directly or anonymously by telling a trusted adult what you know or hear.
• Although there is no absolute guarantee that something bad will never happen, it is important to understand the difference between the possibility of something happening and probability that it will affect you (our school community).
• Senseless violence is hard for everyone to understand. Doing things that you enjoy, sticking to your normal routine, and being with friends and family help make us feel better and keep us from worrying about the event.
• Sometimes people do bad things that hurt others. They may be unable to handle their anger, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or suffering from mental illness. Adults (parents, teachers, police officers, doctors, faith leaders) work very hard to get those people help and keep them from hurting others. It is important for all of us to know how to get help if we feel really upset or angry and to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
• Stay away from guns and other weapons. Tell an adult if you know someone has a gun. Access to guns is one of the leading risk factors for deadly violence.
• Violence is never a solution to personal problems. Students can be part of the positive solution by participating in anti-violence programs at school, learning conflict mediation skills, and seeking help from an adult if they or a peer is struggling with anger, depression, or other emotions they cannot control.

NASP has additional information for parents and educators on school safety, violence prevention, children’s trauma reactions, and crisis response at www.nasponline.org.