Almost daily, world events remind us that safety plans to prevent and respond to violent incidents remain a top priority in our schools.

District 45 Schools are always thinking about safety. In 2019, our District established a Threat Assessment Team to develop and review protocols to prevent and mitigate threats to safety, including school violence.

As part of the 2020 Referendum, we made necessary safety and security upgrades at all schools, including securing entrances, alarms, and doors, increasing parking, and improving drop-off zones.

Each of our schools follows an Emergency Operation Plan with critical steps to assess and respond to specific emergencies. The District’s Safety Committee regularly reviews these plans and communicates with the Villa Park Police Department, the Lombard Police Department, and the DuPage Regional Office of Education.

All District 45 Schools participate in fire, severe weather, bus evacuation, and emergency response drills throughout the school year, including a Run/Hide/Fight Drill. These drills help ensure our students and employees know what to do in an emergency.

Before the drill, teachers provide students with an explanation of the purpose of the drill in a developmentally appropriate manner, and our local police are on hand to observe the exercise to ensure our procedures are effectively in place.

Finally, our District 45 teachers and staff focus on prevention by forming relationships with our students to provide support when they need it so that they feel comfortable reporting to us when they hear or see concerning behaviors. We ask all parents and guardians to reinforce this with their children at home. Please encourage your child to come to you when they feel unsafe and remind them to report any suspicions and concerns about school safety.

You send your children to us every day with the expectation that we will educate them and keep them safe. I can assure you that this is a trust that District 45 does not take lightly. Should you have any questions about safety in our schools, please don’t hesitate to contact the district office or your school principal.