District 86 Approves New Security Director, Information Officer

HINSDALE, IL — The District 86 Board of Education has approved two new appointments for the district. Keith Bockwoldt will serve as Chief Information Officer; his contract starts Jan. 14 and goes through June 30, 2021. Current Student Safety Supervisor and former Hinsdale Chief of Police Kevin Simpson has been named the Director of Security for the district. His contract starts Jan. 14 and goes through June 30, 2020, the district said.

Bockwoldt currently serves as the Director of Technology Services for Township High School District 214 in Arlington Heights, a position he has held since 2004, according to the district. At District 214, he led an IT operation for the district's six comprehensive high schools and Forest View Educational Center. In his position, he integrated security measures with IT, started a data warehouse and dashboard to create a platform for the district, and developed a portfolio of web-based applications for instructional initiatives.

The district said Bockwoldt received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science and Master of Science in Computer Science from Governors State University.

“District 86 has made huge strides in technology implementation in recent years and I am excited to lead the effort to maximize learning opportunities and operations through technology," Bockwoldt said in a release. “As we all know, technology touches every student and staff member, whether through curriculum and instruction, operations, or in Board-planned security initiatives. I look forward to working with the entire team to keep moving the District forward.”

“The importance of technology in District 86 continues to grow not only for curriculum and information management but also as a critical component of student and staff security,” Superintendent Dr. Bruce Law said in a release. "These two roles will increase operational effectiveness by strengthening and improving the work we already do as well as create higher standards of efficiency and effectiveness across the District as the Board continues to focus on safety and security, facilities and instruction."

The district said Bockwoldt and Simpson's positions will work closely together to integrate district technology with the safety and security upgrades the board plans to implement beginning in the summer of 2019 to improve the security of students and staff. Both positions are cost neutral to the 2019-20 budget.

As Director of Security, Simpson will lead district-wide safety and security initiatives, drills and crisis team planning. The district said Simpson served as a member of the Hinsdale Police Department from 1989 to 2017, rising through the ranks to serve as Deputy Chief of Administration, Deputy Chief of Operations and ultimately Chief of Police.

Simpson is a certified ALICE (Alert Lockdown Inform Counter Evacuate) instructor, an active shooter civilian response training program, a member of the School Safety Information Sharing Program, and a current member of the District 86 Safety and Security Committee, the district said. Simpson has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Lewis University and received his law enforcement recruit training and certification from the Chicago Police Academy and Executive Law Enforcement Training from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“I am thrilled to join District 86 as the Director of Security,” Simpson said in a release. “With this new position, I will be able to bring my professional law enforcement expertise to build upon the security measures and protocols already in place to fortify our efforts to keep everyone safe. I look forward to working with all stakeholders across the District to continuously improve and be proactive as this work evolves.”

“Bringing Kevin on board at this time is key to the safety and security initiatives that we have recommended and the Board has committed to implement starting in summer 2019,” Law said in a release. “In my role as Superintendent, I have already worked with Kevin when he served in his previous capacity at the Hinsdale Police Department, so I have witnessed his professionalism, his reasoned response in times of crisis, and his thoughtful guidance in security matters. He will be a tremendous asset to this District as we strive to ensure the security of every student and staff member.”

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