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Report: Increased crisis training leads to fewer suspensions in U-46

In movies about educators who take assignments in tough urban high schools, teachers are often shown breaking up fights by getting physically between two students, maybe even showing off their training as CIA-paid mercenaries.

But in real life, intervening in that manner can actually escalate the situation, says John Heiderscheidt, Elgin Area School District U-46's safety and security coordinator.

That's why the district is working to train its staff in how to effectively defuse potentially violent situations in their schools, an effort that may be bearing fruit in reduced suspensions, fewer fights and fewer assaults on staff members.

The initiative, developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute, teaches the staff how to use words, body language and other signals to reduce tension and defuse crises.

“It's a strategy about how to move into those situations safely,” Heiderscheidt said.

Last year, two certified instructors trained 176 employees in U-46. So far this year, 473 employees have been trained. Heiderscheidt believes the training has helped change the culture in some of the district's buildings.

High school suspensions are down from 7,082 in the 2007-08 school year to 5,110 last year, according to Heiderscheidt's annual report on safety and security, presented Monday night.

During the 2008-09 school year, there were 21 assaults on staff members, many of them stemming from attempts by staffers to break up student fights, Heiderscheidt said. Last year, there were only two assaults on the staff.

But Heiderscheidt, who was hired as the district's first safety coordinator in 2006, said there is much more to be done. He wants to see 100 percent compliance with lockdown drills. His goal is to train all district employees using the Crisis Prevention Institute model.

Nasir Almasri, a Bartlett High School student who serves as a student adviser to the school board, said Monday that students are often unsure where to go to report potential safety issues.

Still, board members applauded the gains the district has made so far — particularly in reducing suspensions in the district's five high schools.

“It keeps kids in the classroom,” board President Ken Kaczynski said. “I hope that continues.”