District 200 Reviews School Safety With Parents, Students, Staff

WHEATON, IL — Community Unit District 200 superintendent Dr. Jeff Schuler recently sent a letter to parents to address safety concerns in the wake of the deadly shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida. In the letter, Schuler stressed the district's commitment to student safety and went over current and future security measures at each of the district's 20 schools.

Schuler emphasized that each building is secured so that visitors must be let in before entering the premises. The school board also plans to implement additional entry measures throughout the summer to increase building security.

In the letter, Schuler said the district employs specific safety protocols that go into effect during emergencies. He added that these protocols are reviewed by the District Safety Committee regularly. The committee is made up of administrators from District 200, along with first responders from throughout the area.

"Most importantly - conversations with our children are essential to the safety and security of our buildings," Schuler said, urging children to tell an adult whenever they feel unsafe.

Schuler said some students in the district participated in a peaceful walkout to stand in solidarity with the Parkland shooting victims.

He added, "While we do not condone students walking out of school as it creates yet another safety concern, we do believe it’s incredibly important for our students to have a voice and that their concerns are heard. Our building administrators are actively working with student groups to identify safe, alternative opportunities for our students to be heard."

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