March 14 | Safety Meeting

Thank you to everyone who attended our district-wide safety meeting this past Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Your engagement and thoughtful questions reflect the strong commitment we all share in keeping our schools and community safe.

A special thank you to the Arlington Heights Police Department for their partnership, presence, and expertise. Special thanks to School Resource Officers, John O’Leary and Chris Seebacher, and Arlington Heights Police Commander Chris Sefton and Deputy Chief Greg Czernecki for participating in the meeting Wednesday night.

Our meeting took place from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM at Thomas Middle School, covering the following agenda items:

1. Update on Recent Events

2. Steps the Arlington Heights Police Department Takes for Stranger Danger Situations

3. How the Community Can Enhance Safety Measures

4. Addressing Pre-Submitted Questions and Topics

5. Open Q&A and Discussion

We truly appreciate all who participated, shared concerns, and engaged in meaningful discussions. The officers provided valuable insights. Linked below are two slides from the Arlington Heights Police Department we found to be especially insightful. We also linked some talking points that could be helpful when talking to your child about stranger situations.

• AHPD Safety Slides
• Stranger Safety Talking Points
• Video/Article: Stranger Danger Talking Points

The following are key topics discussed and responses to questions asked via the google form submissions (prior to the meeting) and questions asked at the meeting:

1. Election Day at Schools
   We attempted to work with the county clerk to remove schools as polling places but were unsuccessful. However, we have a robust safety plan in place, which was shared in our last Dish newsletter:

• Polling Locations: Dryden, Greenbrier, Ivy Hill, Patton, Westgate, Windsor

• A Building Attendant will be present at each polling site throughout the election.

• A District Administrator will be present at each polling site throughout the school day.

• Public access is restricted to the designated polling area only and monitored by a District Administrator and Building Attendant.

• A School Administrator will be on-site during school hours.

• Outdoor recess will be canceled at elementary schools used as polling sites.

2. Community Camera Registration
   Residents can opt to register their security cameras with the AHPD to assist in investigations. More details: Connect Arlington Heights Camera Registration

3. Communication of Safety Incidents
   We are actively working to ensure timely and thorough communication across all relevant entities. We will work to ensure our communication involving safety incidents is distributed to community entities including but not limited to Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Village of Arlington Heights, A Mother’s Touch (AMT), Children At Play (CAP), and Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO). We will continue to add to our distribution list, as needed.

4. Increased Police Presence Outside of School Hours
   Concerns regarding police presence beyond school drop-off and pick-up times were heard. While an immediate solution wasn’t available, the feedback was heard and noted.

5. Student Safety Training Frequency & Content
   We are gathering information on how often safety drills occur and the details of what is taught. Once compiled, this will be shared on our Safe25 webpage, with an announcement in The District 25 Dish.

6. Frequency of Stranger Danger Notifications
   We are gathering information on how many stranger danger notifications have been sent in the immediate surrounding area. Once we have this information, we will share it on our Safe25 webpage, with an announcement in The District 25 Dish.

7. Digital Devices & Apple AirTags for Students
   This topic was brought up, and we encourage families to consider what safety measures best suit their needs. Click here to review the District’s guidelines on cell phones and other electronic devices during the school day.

I am incredibly proud to serve as superintendent of a community prioritizing safety and collaboration. Our strong partnership with the Arlington Heights Police Department is invaluable, and I sincerely appreciate their swift response and expertise. It is evident that they are true professionals in their field.

As a District, we have promoted See Something, Say Something. It is clear our community is taking that responsibility seriously, not only this past week, but throughout our school year and for that I am thankful. As a result, I would expect more notifications to be sent in the future in order to keep our entire community informed of any suspicious activity. This is all in an effort to ensure the safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority. Thank you for being an engaged and proactive community—it truly takes a village.

Together Today to Transform Tomorrow,

Dr. Brian Kaye
Superintendent, Arlington Heights School District 25

Para esta carta en español, haga clic aquí.