Security Procedures Notification
February 17, 2018
Dear West Central C.U.S.D. #235 Stakeholders,
West Central C.U.S.D. #235 Board of Education, administration and staff are disheartened by the recent tragedy in Parkland, Florida. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the school district, their families and their community. In light of this tragedy, we feel like this is an appropriate time to communicate some of the security measures we have in place at West Central. It is the belief of the West Central School District that we are proactive in addressing security and preventing a crisis situation. For safety reasons, we can’t be too specific, but we can give you some general information. Please know that the staff at West Central loves our West Central students, your children, and the safety of our students and staff is a top priority. Please be patient and understanding if you are in one of our facilities and we ask questions. We have very important children to protect.
Entry Protocol
At each attendance center, we have a camera and buzzer security system in place. All exterior doors are locked during the school day. Prior to entry, a visitor must press the buzzer and be screened. Staff can see the visitor through the camera system and communicate verbally with them. If the visitor has been approved to enter, he/she is buzzed into the building and required to check in at the office. When checking into the office, he/she will sign in and receive a visitor’s badge.
During the Summer of 2016, the District had a security hall built between the main building and the Industrial Arts/Agriculture facility and did some remodeling inside so that we had no classes in our modular classrooms and no student or staff member had to go outside to get to their classroom. During Summer 2017 over 100 cameras were installed in the District. These cameras are placed in the interior and exterior of each facility. We have the ability to view them from any Command Center post through the use of technology.
Communication
We have a variety of communication tools that we use. These can be used before, during, and after an emergency to communicate both internally and externally, check on the safety and location of all students and staff and to disseminate information. Our current phone system is becoming outdated, so West Central District is in the process of exploring other phone system options with the intent to install in Summer 2018.
Training and Drills
On December 3, 2015, December 10, 2015, and January 21, 2016, Mrs. Lafary, our Elementary Principal received School Crisis Assistance Team (SCAT) training and serves on that team for our region. Members of that team are called to assist schools if a crisis situation were to arise.
On September 13, 2016, some members of our administrative team received training in Basic Student Behavior Threat Assessment. On October 11, 2016, they also attended Advanced Student Behavioral Threat Assessment training. As a result of these trainings, a Threat Assessment Team was assembled and Threat Assessment Procedures were developed and implemented.
On January 20, 2017, West Central staff received Active Shooter training from local law enforcement and the Illinois State Police. On March 23, 2017 members of our administrative team participated in an Active Shooter Table Top discussion with emergency response team members at the Henderson County Health Department to discuss emergency procedures and scenarios. Each year, we have multiple emergency drills with students. We have a tornado drill, three fire drills (one with the fire department present), two bus drills, and a lock down drill with students while law enforcement is present. Each year West Central School District conducts a Safety Meeting with emergency response representatives to communicate our current emergency practices and to receive recommendations and input from the agencies. In fact, this meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2018.
On August 1, 2017 our administrative team participated in an Emergency Operations Plan meeting through the Regional Office of Education #33 to review Emergency Operation Plans and to collaborate with emergency response personnel.
Mental Health and Wellness Action Team
In Spring 2017, West Central School District held vision meetings in each community. As a result of this vision work, we established three Action Teams. One of the Action Teams is a Mental Health and Wellness Action Team. We have students, parents, community members, staff, administration, and Board members who serve on this Action Team. We have had a lot of good discussion and are working on implementing ideas to address the mental health and wellness of our students and staff. We welcome new members. If you are interested in serving on any of our Action Teams, please contact Paula Markey at (309) 627-2371 or markey-paula@wc235.k12.il.us.
On October 20, 2017, representatives from West Central School District attended The Henderson County Community Resources Council meeting at the Henderson County Health Department. They listened to the featured speaker, Jessica Donaldson, who is the Director of Crisis & SAS Services at Bridgeway. This Council includes representatives of organizations that provide services and programs to Henderson County community residents.
In October 2018, West Central staff will be receiving training in detecting signs of mental illness and ways to address it. We are working through the Action Team to develop a curriculum for our students to also identify signs of mental illness and what to do if they have concerns. In the meantime, we encourage anyone that has any concerns to report those concerns to any staff member, the building principal, the superintendent or law enforcement.
In March 2018, the West Central School District will be applying for a School Safety Partnership Mini-Grant through the School Safety Advocacy Council. If we are successful in our application for this grant, it will help finance the cost of conducting an outside, independent assessment of our safety and security needs. The outside, independent school safety assessment would provide a snapshot to our District on areas we are exceeding in safety efforts and where best to focus on enhancing safety. It would also provide a training grant that would provide the district with in-service training.
When a tragedy such as the one in Parkland, Florida happens, it indirectly impacts us all. Lots of emotions are stirred up within us and questions arise. This letter is our effort to answer some of the questions we know are on your minds. While we review our security procedures on a regular basis, this causes us to review them again which we are and will continue to do. As stated in the opening paragraph, West Central C.U.S.D. #235 takes very seriously the mental health and wellness, safety, and security of our students and staff. We will continue to be diligent in receiving training and in our efforts to protect the students and staff of West Central #235. Please feel free to contact Paula Markey at (309) 627-2371 or markey-paula@wc235.k12.il if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Thank you for your support and cooperation in the implementation of our security measures and protecting our students and staff.
Again, if you are interested in serving on an action team, please contact me at your earliest convenience, so we can get you plugged in and contributing.
Sincerely,
Paula Markey
West Central C.U.S.D. #235
Superintendent
