Safety Protocols & Upcoming Drills

The safety and well-being of students and staff are the highest priority at Hawthorn School District 73. In collaboration with our local fire and police departments, we regularly review, update, and practice safety procedures so that we are prepared in the event of an emergency.

As required by the Illinois School Code, our schools participate in fire, severe weather, bus evacuation, and emergency response drills throughout the year. These drills ensure that students and staff know how to respond quickly and safely.

This fall, students will also participate in a hard lockdown drill the week of September 14, 2026. Families with students at Lincoln Early Learning Center will receive details directly from Lincoln. If you would like to excuse your student from this drill, please contact your building office by September 7, 2026.

During a lockdown, no one may enter or leave the building until authorized. While this upcoming drill is only a practice, it is important to remember that in a real emergency, coming to school or calling the office could significantly interfere with emergency responders. Instead, you will receive timely updates through the contact information you have provided in your PowerSchool Parent Portal. The district will use our mass notification system to send phone calls, emails, and text messages, and we will also post updates on our website and social media.

*To ensure accuracy, Hawthorn District 73 will conduct a test of our mass notification system tomorrow, August 20. A message will be sent to all emergency contacts by phone, email, and text. If you do not receive the notification, please contact your school building to update your information.*

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe and prepared.

Sincerely,

Dr. Pete Hannigan

Superintendent

Hawthorn District 73

• August 20, 2026 – District-wide test of the mass notification system (call, email, text).

*This test did not occur as planned. Families will be notified by email when a makeup date is scheduled.*

• September 7, 2026 – Deadline to submit opt-out request for the hard lockdown drill.

• Week of September 14, 2026 – Hard lockdown drills at North and South campuses. (Families at Lincoln Early Learning Center will receive separate details.)