New security measures formally approved by Dist. 300 board

Community Unit District 300 this week moved forward on three measures to improve security at the schools.

The district school board approved a policy that will allow school administrators to search students using hand-held metal detectors.

The policy, which will be in effect in the fall, will allow administrators to search individual students with "reasonable suspicion" and also to conduct random searches of entire classrooms monthly at middle schools and twice a month at high schools.

Board member John Ryan, chairman of the committee that crafted the policy, said it will allow the district "to maintain as much control of the situation as possible but do it in a way that is respectful of the student and his rights."

Ryan said the "reasonable suspicion" standard will guard against arbitrary searches and profiling.

A new district safety coordinator will train administrators in proper search procedures and maintain the metal detectors.

The position is included in a 2009 draft budget the school board approved Monday. The budget allocates $100,000 of a projected $150,000 surplus for the safety officer's salary, benefits and office equipment.

The other $50,000 will pay for a system that will contact parents with phone calls, e-mails and text messages during emergencies -- including snow days, school cancellations and lockdowns.

District officials said they hope to fill the new post by September. The safety coordinator will earn between $66,401 and $79,995 and report to Associate Superintendent David Scarpino.

The safety officer also will create safety plans, serve as a liaison to local authorities, seek school safety grants and oversee building security.

The district has solicited bids for the emergency notification system and plans to choose a vendor next month. The system will be in place by August, officials said.

Several surrounding school districts have also taken recent steps to beef up security at their schools.

Elgin Area School District U-46, the state's second-largest district, hired the district's first safety coordinator last year and implemented random searches at all of the district's high schools.

Huntley Unit District 158 began using an emergency notification system this year, while Kaneland Unit District 302 and Central Unit District 301 are implementing similar systems.