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Safety and Security

The safety and security of our students, staff and community is our top priority. We are committed to providing an environment where everyone feels safe and can focus on the important task of learning and growing.

This page outlines some of the measures, protocols and resources we have implemented to ensure the well-being of all members of our district community.

If you have any questions about safety and security, please do not hesitate to contact either your school or the district office. 

Director of Safety and Security

A photo of Director of Safety and Security Solveig Jurmu.

Solveig Jurmu joined North Shore School District 112 as Director of Safety and Security in 2023, in a shared position with Bannockburn District 106 and Deerfield District 109. 

Jurmu oversees safety and security planning, training, oversight, interdistrict communication, liaisoning with first responders and implementation of safety and security protocols, including ALICE training, behavioral response, and related issues of safety.

She brings extensive law enforcement experience to the role after a distinguished career as a police officer in Wilmette. She attained the rank of Sergeant before her retirement in 2023.

Resources

How to find help or someone to listen
If you are experiencing an emergency situation that threatens your safety or that of others, call 911. If you are a parent or a student dealing with something impacting your physical or mental well-being, consider speaking with a school counselor, teacher, or building principal or anonymously using the hotlines/webpages listed below: 

Text-a-Tip
When you are struggling with anything. When you are worried about a friend, talk to a school counselor, a parent, or a trusted adult. When that’s not possible, HELP IS ALWAYS A TEXT AWAY. Text “224HELP” to 844-823-LEAD (844-823-5323). Learn more about Text-a-Tip.

Safe2Help Illinois
In the absence of a 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.” Learn more about Safe2Help.

District 112 Tip Line
Contact the district office or have a message routed to a school staff member with this form. Fill out the online contact form.

Safety Drills

The Illinois School Safety Drill Act (105 ILCS 128 School Safety Drill Act) establishes the minimum number of and type of school safety drills that each individual school building must conduct. They are as follows:

  • Evacuation Drills - 3 per year (with 1 requiring the participation of the fire department).
  • Bus Evacuation Drills - 1 per year
  • Law Enforcement Drills (including Lockdowns) - 1 per year
  • Severe Weather/Shelter-in-Place - 1 per year requiring law enforcement participation

This law also has other requirements to include:

  • Each school district must conduct an annual meeting to review each school building’s emergency and crisis response plans, protocols and procedures and is conducted with the leadership teams from each school building, district administration personnel and our first responders.  
  • Reporting to ensure compliance of the drills conducted at each school building, as well as documentation of the annual safety meeting conducted.  
  • Implementing a Behavior Threat Assessment Team to address any targeted school violence prevention  

We understand after any drills, students may have questions about the drill or other emotionally challenging situation. There are a handful of resources available to help guide you if needed:

ALICE Protocol

To enhance our preparedness for a range of emergencies, we have adopted the ALICE protocol as part of our safety procedures. ALICE is a set of proactive strategies that increase the chances of survival during an active shooter event or violent intruder incident. Here’s what ALICE stands for:

  • A - Alert: The first and most crucial step in a critical incident is to be aware of the danger and to communicate it effectively. Alert is about using all available means to inform everyone within the area of the threat, quickly and accurately.

  • L - Lockdown: If immediate evacuation is not possible, the next step is to implement a lockdown. This means securing the space by locking doors and barricading entry points to create a barrier between students and the threat.

  • I - Inform: Ongoing, real-time information is essential in any emergency. We aim to keep everyone informed with as much knowledge as possible so they can make the best decisions for their safety.

  • C - Counter: As a method of last resort, Counter focuses on actions that can be taken to disrupt the attacker and reduce their ability to cause harm. This does not involve engaging physically with the intruder, but instead is about distraction, noise, and movement to interrupt their actions.

  • E - Evacuate: When it is safe to do so, and when directed by the appropriate authorities, evacuating the premises is the goal. This means moving away from the danger zone and going to a predetermined safe location.

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OTHER SAFETY AND SECURITY INFORMATION