The events in Nashville earlier this week remind us once again of the threats faced by schools nationwide. As we all contemplate what this means locally, I wanted to take a moment to let you know that school safety remains a priority for Illini West.
Last year we implemented a digital crisis management platform and alert system (CrisisGo). This year we have added daily mental health counselors, implemented a new behavioral threat assessment, and are currently working to improve our entry and exit security.
In addition to our work to prevent crisis management events, we are also working to improve our response. Yesterday, I attended a meeting that included the following agencies.
Carthage Police Department
Hancock County Sheriff's Department
Carthage Fire Department
Hancock County EMS
Hancock County Health Department
Memorial Hospital
Hancock County Emergency Service and Disaster Agency
Hancock County 911
The purpose of this meeting was to provide a coordinated response in the event of a crisis management event.
This summer, we will participate in a large-scale exercise at IWHS to drill and review this coordinated response. I am very grateful to the organizations listed above for their proactive approach to planning and training. This group is committed to the safety and security of our students and staff, and we are excited to partner with them to improve our preparedness.