Violence, Drugs Up At Lyons Township High: Report

LA GRANGE, IL – Incidents involving violence and drugs skyrocketed in the 2022-23 school year at Lyons Township High School, the latest statistics show.

According to the figures, the school saw a dozen incidents of violence with physical injury in 2022-23, up from 10 a year earlier. As for violence without physical injury, the number was 30 in 2022-23, up from six the year before.

The discipline report shows drug offenses numbered 99 last year, more than double the previous year's 44. Incidents involving alcohol numbered seven in 2022-23, down from nine a year earlier.

At Monday's school board meeting, Principal Jennifer Tyrrell said the rise in referrals for drugs was because the school used vape detectors for the first time last year. Such devices, she said, get the school information faster.

"We saw this trend in schools pre-COVID. We didn't talk much about vaping in the last few years. Now it's an important topic on our building leadership team," Tyrrell said.

Next year, she said, the school is planning for staff to increase its presence in restrooms to make sure students aren't violating the rules.

Board member Elvia Nava said she liked the focus on restrooms, where she said students are known to "do wrong."