Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
With more and more violence being taken place at schools, Downers Grove wants to get ahead of the curve by taking precautionary measures.
District 99 is introducing several new security enhancements and innovations at North High School and South High School in Downers Grove, all of which will be in place when the school year begins on August 17, 2018.
The District superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele thinks that its time for these improvements, and he believes many advantages will follow.
“This is something we’ve been working on for over six years now with the master facility outline,” Thiele said. “It is a total remodelization for both schools and we feel that the security and impact will have great benefits to our students and staff.”
Security enhancements that will transpire are adding two new, full-time and armed Lead Security Officers, with the officers having one at North High and one at South High, who will oversee building security and personnel.
Russ Rau, a retired Downers Grove Police Officer with 29 years of service, will be Lead Security Officer at North High. Previously, he served as a School Resource Officer at both North High and South High; he is also a community member and current District 99 parent.
Dan Niemann, a retired Des Plaines and Vernon Hills Police Officer with 29 years of service, will be Lead Security Officer at South High. He has served as a commander, sergeant, detective, tactical officer and field training officer.
Both Rau and Niemann have passed rigorous background and reference checks, as well as psychological screenings.
Reconfiguring the front entrances at both North High and South High will be reviewed and at the main entrances of both schools, pass-through windows will allow school personnel to screen visitors prior to allowing entrance into the buildings.
This is the first phase in reinforcing the entrance structures; permanent secured vestibules are in the process of being designed and built as part of the Master Facility Plan that will be in place in the future.
“Accessibility making sure that we get up to code is huge for us in this safety overhaul,” Thiele said. “We want to make sure that all of our students and visitors can easily get around to all parts of the building.”
Adding a new Rapid Emergency Response System inside both buildings along with blue police alarm pull-stations that are similar to red fire alarm pull-stations, are all being added strategically throughout the schools as well.
When these specific alarms are activated, police and first responders are immediately notified.
In addition, loudspeakers throughout the buildings will be broadcasted with emergency information, and strobe lights are activated both inside and outside the building.
In addition to North High and South High, the system will be installed at the Transition 99 Center.
Launching a new internal system application for staff, the third-party application, called “CrisisGo,” allows staff members to communicate electronically with the internal safety team and local law enforcement during a crisis situation.
While reporting their safety status, staff members can also take and report student attendance in the case of an emergency using the application.
The application includes detailed safety plan protocols and building maps for convenient staff access.
Installing safety and security film in strategic locations include a safety and security film to cover select door entryways.
The one-way film will allow students and others who are inside to see outside, but block those outside from seeing into the building.
This will reduce the possibility of someone outside the school from gaining entry without being screened properly, and encourage visitors always to use the main entrance before entering our buildings.
“The feedback we have gotten from this is that people are really excited about us updating our schools,” Thiele said.
The entire renovation process is estimated to take between three to three-and-a-half years according to Thiele.