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Technology and Safety

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Our Technology and Safety department works proactively with our students, staff, and local law enforcement agencies to continuously improve the safety and security of our facilities.

Central 301 Technology and Safety

Brian Tobin: Director of Technology and Safety

P: (847) 464-6005  |  F: (847) 464-6021

Among the areas of focus for Central 301 Technology and Safety and Security are the physical security of buildings, staff and student trainings, proactive planning with local first responders, and emergency communications.

What Should I Do in the Event of an Emergency?

While it is natural for parents and guardians to want to go to their child’s school in the event of an emergency, doing so may actually be counterproductive to emergency response measures. To ensure that school officials and emergency responders are able to do their jobs in keeping students safe during an emergency, family members should refrain from coming to their child’s school unless / until notified via phone, text, or email from the school district.

Please do not call or rush to your child’s school because the phone lines and staff are needed for emergency response efforts.

Please do not phone your child. Staff and students are discouraged from using cell phone communication for safety reasons.

Please wait for communication from your child’s school, which will provide you with direction on how to proceed.

See Something, Say Something

Across the country, in our communities, we share everyday moments with our neighbors, family, coworkers, and friends. We go to work or school, the grocery store, or the gas station. It’s easy to overlook these routine moments, but as you’re going about your day, if you see something that doesn’t seem quite right, say something.

By being alert and reporting suspicious activity to your local law enforcement, you can protect your family, neighbors, and community.

The same works in our Central 301 community. When a student or staff member witnesses or hears of something that doesn’t seem right, they are encouraged to tell a trusted adult or supervisor in the building. Creating and maintaining safe school environments only works when everyone works together toward a common goal.

Illinois School Safety Drill Act

Central 301 complies with the Illinois School Safety Drill Act, which lays out requirements and standards for schools to follow when conducting school safety drills and reviewing school emergency and crisis response plans.

All schools that house students are required by state law to conduct the following drills annually:

  • Three (3) Evacuation/Fire Drills where the fire department must be present to observe and provide direction and feedback for one of the drills.
  • Two (2) Severe Weather/Shelter-in-Place Drills (commonly referred to as a tornado drill.)
  • Two (2) Bus Evacuation Drills that are conducted with the Transportation Department.
  • One (1) Law Enforcement Drill (commonly referred to as a lockdown drill) which must be observed by law enforcement.

Each public school district, through its Board or the Board’s designee, shall conduct a minimum of one annual meeting at which it will review each school building’s emergency and crisis response plans, protocols, and procedures and each building’s compliance with the school safety drill programs.

Central 301 usually completes this annual meeting in the spring and invites all of our first responder partners.

Our partners include the following organizations:

  • Pingree Grove Fire Department
  • Kane County Sheriff’s Office
  • Elgin Police Department
  • Burlington Fire Department
  • Elburn Fire Department
  • Elgin Fire Department

Safe2Help Illinois

Safe2Help Illinois is a 24/7 program where students can use a free app, text/phone, and website (Safe2HelpIllinois.com) to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information provided will be shared with Central 301 district and school officials and / or local PSAP / 911 Call Center, depending on the nature of the information shared. 

Central 301 believes that each student should be able to identify a trusted adult in their school building. This staff member is a person who students can communicate with if they see or hear something and need to say something. In the absence of access to that trusted adult, Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. This program is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish students. Rather, the goal is to get students to “Seek Help Before Harm.”

“I Love U Guys” Foundation

Crisis recovery starts with the crisis, not after. Without a plan to reunite Central 301 students and parents, we exacerbate the stress and potential trauma of the crisis itself and we jeopardize the responsibility of the school and district in maintaining the chain of custody for every student. No school or district is immune to emergencies; fires, floods, tornadoes, blizzards, power outages, and bomb threats or other acts of violence could initiate the need for a reunification for a school or district.

A predetermined, practiced reunification method ensures the reunification process will not further complicate what is probably already a chaotic, anxiety-filled scene. In fact, putting an orderly reunification plan into action will help defuse the emotion building at the site.