School Safety

SCHOOL SAFETY AND CRISIS PREPAREDNESS

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 Board of Education, meets quarterly to discuss any updates and current safety topics for awareness as well as participates in annual crisis simulations. The following outlines some of our safety procedures and efforts to ensure our schools are safe for all students and staff. 

TRAINING AND PREPARATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ELMHURST POLICE DEPARTMENT 

  • Nearly 100 members of our school teams are trained in the use of the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment protocols - one of the only evidence-based programs for threat assessment in the country.
  • We partner with the Elmhurst Police Department to prepare for the possibility of school related incidents on a regular basis.  
  • Our safety procedures are updated regularly. 
  • Our Safety and Security Committee, which includes representatives from the Elmhurst Police and Fire Departments, meets quarterly to discuss safety-related topics and scenarios. 
  • 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 expected 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.
  • An anonymous Quick Tip link for reporting any suspicious behavior can be found on the Middle schools and York High school webpage at 

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

COMMUNITY EFFORTS

  • Everyone should be vigilant and if you ever see or hear of a concern that our schools should be aware of, please do not hesitate to reach out using the tools on our website, or email, call, or stop by and see an administrator. If you see something, say something.  When in doubt, call 911. 
  • The National Association of School Psychologists have developed a set of recommendations for talking with children about violence and we encourage you to review those. Other tools to use for discussions with your children include: 
  • Secure firearm storage is an important part of any home safety plan. Responsible gun ownership includes knowing how to safely secure and store your gun.  If you have a firearm in your home and would like to obtain a lock, you can contact the Elmhurst Police Department.  

DuPage Health - Mental Health Resources

  • Click here for DuPage Health - Mental Health Resources