Former Deputy Chief Hired as D135 Safety Director

Jerry Hughes will only be taking a short break from public safety responsibilities.

At the Dec. 9 meeting, the Orland School District 135 Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of hiring Hughes for the position of risk management and safety director. Hughes was chosen out of 25 applicants and four subsequent interviewees, said D135 Superintendent Janet Stutz.

“What separated him was he was the most well rounded,” Stutz said. “He was the first DARE officer in the community. He was a school board member, so he understands the business of schools. He understands the whole big picture.”

Hughes served with the Orland Park Police Department for 32 ½ years, spending the last 8 ½ as deputy chief. He retired from the department earlier in the month.

From 1999 until 2007, he served on Community Consolidated School District’s Board of Education, including time spent as board president.

Hughes will be paid $86,000 a year for the new role.

His initial responsibilities will include overseeing the implementation of the district’s new Raptor security system, which includes scanning visitors’ ID cards for sex offender registration and other potential safety risks.

Hughes anticipates focusing on emergency response to be high on the initial priorities, along with the security system.

“I think schools are in good shape,” Hughes said about the district’s current safety. “ I’ve worked closely with principals and superintendents on safety for years. They take it very seriously as do police here. It’s been a very close and positive relationship with the police department. I think that will continue to get better.”

Hughes’ wife works as a teacher for the district at Liberty School.

“She’s been a teacher for 25 years,” he said. “Schools are very important to us and I’m excited about it.”

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