Safe Schools

District 64 has a standardized crisis plan that is reviewed annually by the police and fire departments from Park Ridge and Niles. Changes are made to our plans as necessary to comply with current best practices and emergency protocols. School principals also review the plan annually for any site-specific updates.

• HOLD - If a school is placed in a Hold, students and staff will clear the hallways and hold in their classroom or area. Students outside for recess or PE will stay outside. Students and staff will continue their normal routine in their location. We will call a Hold in situations when we need to keep the hallways clear to attend to an individual, such as a medical emergency. 
• SECURE - If a school is Secure, there is a situation in the community where the police or school officials believe it is safer to move all students inside the school. During Secure, students will continue learning, but visitors will not be admitted to the school. Students will not be dismissed at the end of the day until law enforcement has determined it is safe. All families will be notified when the building is in Secure and when the Secure has been lifted.
• LOCKDOWN - A school is put into Lockdown if there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. District 64 would call, text, and email parents and guardians in the case of a Lockdown. We promise to communicate with you as soon as possible. Please be patient, as our priority will be the safety of students and staff. 
• SHELTER - A school is under Shelter during a weather situation, such as a tornado warning. Staff will bring students to their designated shelter locations inside the school. All families will be notified when the building is in Shelter and when the Shelter has been lifted.
• EVACUATION - An Evacuation may be necessary when conditions outside the school are safer than those inside the building, such as a fire or gas leak. If students are taken to another location, all families will be notified, and directions to a reunification site will be shared. 

The Illinois School Safety Drill Act requires every school in Illinois to conduct three fire drills, one bus evacuation drill, one tornado drill, and one lockdown drill. District 64 does two lockdown drills. One is done with local police and fire departments so everyone knows what to do should an emergency occur. Police and fire officials attend other drills, offering support and preparing themselves in case of a crisis.

All District 64 exterior and interior doors are closed and locked during the school day. Staff can use their ID badges to enter the building. All visitors, including parents/guardians and volunteers, entering District 64 schools must check in directly at the office by presenting a driver’s license or state ID to be run through a visitor management system before receiving a visitor name badge. No exceptions will be made. The visitor name badge must be worn at all times while in the building and returned to the office on departure.

All eight schools and the District Office have secure entrances, which force visitors to enter the office before being admitted to the school.

We know the importance of keeping families informed during an emergency. However, please understand our first priority is ensuring the students and staff are safe and notifying emergency personnel. District 64 will use its notification system, ParentSquare to call, email, and text families. Please ensure your cell phone and email address are up to date by checking the information in your parent portal account. 

In the event of a school emergency, District 64 staff are working with local police and fire departments to ensure children’s safety. We are committed to providing ongoing updates as information becomes available to us. Stay alert for texts, emails, phone calls, and updated information on our district website. We know that many of our students will try to call or text their parents/guardians during an emergency. If this occurs, we ask that you stay calm and reassuring. Encourage your student to follow the directions of school staff. 

We understand your desire to go to the school, especially in a situation that feels scary. However, arriving at the scene before it is secure can interfere with the emergency response and put you in danger. Past school emergencies have shown that one of the most significant challenges is managing the number of parents and concerned citizens rushing to the scene. By rushing to the school, parents can unintentionally create traffic jams that may block emergency responders from getting to the school or leaving if necessary to transport injured students or staff to emergency medical facilities. In an emergency, families should not come to pick up their child unless given the direction to do so from District 64. In many situations, your child may be bused to another location away from the scene to be reunited with family. District 64 will notify you of that reunification site.

We ask that families do not call the school. This allows phone lines to stay open for communication with emergency personnel and school officials. It also helps school staff remain focused on their students' safety. The school/district will communicate any information with you as soon as possible. 

Please check the information in your parent portal account to ensure your cell phone and email addresses are up to date. 

In some cases, a school evacuation will require District 64 to follow a standard reunification plan to ensure students are safely returned to their families. During a reunification, ONLY parent/guardians or emergency contacts will be authorized to pick up your child. Please follow these steps:

• Bring a valid form of identification (ID).
• Follow signage and parking directions at the reunification location
• Complete the provided reunification form.
• Provide school personnel with a valid photo ID and the completed reunification form at the check-in table.
• Wait patiently as a District 64 staff member retrieves and escorts your student to you.

Asking about their day shows you care and encourages open, honest sharing.

• Acknowledge Their Feelings: 
  • It’s okay to feel scared or nervous sometimes.
• Explain Safety Measures:
  • Share simple steps schools take to stay safe, like locked doors and buddy systems.
• Emphasize Support Networks:
  • Remind them there are trusted adults to help.
• Highlight Positive Experiences:
  • Recall times they’ve felt happy and safe at school.
• Model Confidence:
  • Show calmness and confidence about school safety.
• Encourage Open Communication:
  • Assure them they can talk to you anytime.