Lake Forest Elementary School District 67 and Lake Forest Community High School District 115 (LFHS) believes that safe schools are the result of a coordinated, collaborative effort between all District stakeholders. This includes school staff, local law enforcement, emergency first responders, community members, parents, and most importantly, students. We proactively engage these stakeholders to create a safe and productive learning environment throughout our District.

The safety and security programs in both Districts are concentrated in five key areas:

1. Facilities and Infrastructure
2. Policies and Procedures
3. Culture and Climate
4. Training and Education
5. Community Partnerships
   
   

Video Monitoring at LFHS

LFHS also has a comprehensive network of internal and external security cameras that provide for supervision of the campus 24 hours a day.

Incident Command System in District 67

Every District 67 school building has an Incident Command System (ICS) in place which provides overall direction and sets priorities for an emergency. Functions are assigned to school administrators and staff with specific roles and responsibilities to assist in the management of a crisis.

Secured Access to Buildings

All exterior doors in every school building are locked during the school day. Access to school buildings after the regular school day schedule is restricted to athletics and extracurricular activities and events. Areas of the building not open to the public will be secured and entry is prohibited.

Visitor Management

All school building visitors are screened in a secure vestibule through the Raptor Technologies Visitor Management System that requires visitors to scan a valid driver's license prior to obtaining a badge to enter the school. The software immediately alerts personnel should a visitor be identified as a risk. This System also allows school officials to enter information on Orders of Protection, Trespass Notices, or other community alerts. Once approved, they must sign in and out of the front office.

Visitors are expected to comply with all Board of Education policies and school conduct procedures. Visitors to and Conduct on School Property (Board Policy 8:30)

Supporting Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Students

To create a safe learning environment, schools must care for the “whole child.” LFHS is committed to the social and emotional well-being of our students. This is accomplished by providing timely and compassionate interventions for students who struggle socially or emotionally. By establishing a responsive school culture, with varied resources and strong support systems, LFHS ensures the healthy growth and development of our students. This translates to improved academic outcomes and increased safety and security.

If an emergency incident occurs, a Crisis Response Team will be activated at the school to help students and staff cope with its emotional impact.

Additional Resources

https://www.stopbullying.gov/
https://www.samhsa.gov/
https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2228/Emergency-Management-Agency
https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/SiteCollectionDocuments/K-12SchoolSecurityPracticesGuide.pdf
https://www.dhs.gov/cisa/school-safety-and-security
https://www.mhanational.org/talking-kids-about-school-safety