Northwest suburban school districts partner to hire Arlington Heights cop as security director

Two Northwest suburban school districts will share the cost of a new $125,000 administrative position — director for school safety and security — in what officials believe is an increasingly necessary role to coordinate security efforts with municipalities and first responders across the region.

Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 and Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 are turning to Dinka "Danny" Malik, an Arlington Heights police officer, for the new job. Currently a school resource officer who is liaison to all 20 or so public and private schools in Arlington Heights, Malik will go to work exclusively for districts 21 and 59 on Feb. 1.

Malik will formally be an employee of District 21, which will invoice District 59 quarterly as part of the 50/50 shared compensation arrangement. He will report to assistant superintendents in each district and split his time equally.

“I’ve worked extensively with the district and know that there is work to be done, but there is a strong foundation in safety and security due to the dedicated professionals that work here,” Malik told the District 21 school board Thursday after his hiring was approved. “I’m excited to build upon that foundation and be part of this team.”

Malik will be tasked with implementing comprehensive safety and security programs at both districts, which will include assessing potential risks, establishing and refining emergency response plans, and conducting regular drills to ensure preparedness, officials said.

District 21 Superintendent Michael Connolly called Malik an “authority” on issues of school safety, having led an Arlington Heights school safety advisory task force during his 4 ⅟₂ years on the police department. Malik was previously a McHenry police officer for three years, and served in the United States Marine Corps for four years before being honorably discharged.

The school districts have ramped up security initiatives in recent years, including adding school resource officers and implementing standard training protocols. Both districts were looking to add a director of security, when District 21 approached District 59 in November.

The districts are similar in student population size, demographics and number of schools.

“Neither of us were really sure if each individual organization (needed it) to be a full-time position,” Connolly said. “It was something that we felt like it was important, and it certainly could evolve into a full-time position for each district. But there was a lot of good synergy opportunities to take a look at this intergovernmental agreement for shared services.”

The agreement automatically renews on June 30, 2025, unless either district provides notice of termination by May 1.