Security Upgrades At Frankfort School District 157-C: What To Know

FRANKFORT, IL — Students, faculty, staff and parents can expect to see upgraded security systems and policies at Frankfort School District 157-C when the new school year starts Wednesday, according to a letter sent to parents Aug. 5.

The District's Superintendent Doug Wernet sent the letter to parents to let them know about the upgrades, though he cautioned that the District would not provide specifics on the security measures.

For starters, visitors at each of the District's three schools — Grand Prairie Elementary, Chelsea Intermediate and Hickory Creek Middle School — will need to pass through an additional layer of double locks for the exterior and interior doors and be buzzed in at both points.

Interior and exterior security cameras will be placed at all three schools, with real-time access to the video feeds.

Exterior doors, which are always locked, will now have sensors to alert staff if any of the doors are left open.

Classroom and meeting rooms doors will be able to be immediately locked without the use of a key in case of an emergency situation.

In addition to the beefed-up security on the physical buildings, the District will have improved communications and cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, according to the letter.

Starting this school year, District personnel will be equipped with technology that will allow them to contact first responders directly, which will eliminate delays associated with phone calls during an emergency.

Classroom teachers and staff will also be able send an alert to the the entire school through a new school-wide communication system.

Additionally, a full-time Frankfort police officer will be assigned as a school resource officer. This officer will be present daily in one or more of each of the three schools. Plus, the Frankfort Police Department will increase its overall presence at the schools through unannounced building and parking lot patrols.

All staff will be retrained in the "Run, Hide, Fight" response plan to an active threat. Students will also be given age-appropriate safety drill trainings by law enforcement, as required by Illinois Law.

Each of the three schools will have a "building threat assessment team," who will be trained in processes for evaluating threats. This will go along with a new implementation of the Safe2HelpIL communication line, which allows students a confidential way to share information about potential threats.

"Our schools are places where happiness, learning, and tremendous growth happens daily," Wernet wrote. "We will continue our effort to make certain those components remain at the forefront while still recognizing the all-too-important safety measures that must be taken to protect all who come to Frankfort School District 157-C to teach and learn."

• Related: Back To School: Frankfort 2022-23 School Calendar