Community collaboration on emergency management plan

West Chicago, Illinois: June 14, 2012 – Readiness and emergency management for schools has become a critical necessity for educational institutions across the country. As tragic incidents continue to make headlines each year, the need for a comprehensive plan that addresses the unique specifications of buildings, and delivers protocols to ensure speed and efficiency in the movement of people during a crisis, becomes more relevant.

Thanks to a collaborative effort of intergovernmental partners in West Chicago and federal grant assistance, such a plan was developed within the framework of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) standard and has been in place since 2007.

According to West Chicago Elementary School District 33's Superintendant Ed Leman, "Surprisingly, many public institutions don't leverage the resources of all emergency entities within their jurisdiction to jointly create a working plan. West Chicago is a rare model in this regard. I would encourage other school districts to do the same."

West Chicago's Acting Mayor Ruben Pineda credits the "collaborative gene" that is tightly woven within the fabric of the West Chicago community for the thoroughness of its readiness plan. "The working relationship between District 33, the City of West Chicago and its Police Department, and the West Chicago Fire Protection District provides the means to pull strength and insight from each entity's expertise."

The creation of the West Chicago Emergency Management Plan began with the formation of a District-wide safety committee. Incident command teams were formed in every school to lead the emergency preparedness work. Formal training on emergency response from police and fire officials is offered throughout the school year by utilizing routine drills. The drills serve to problem solve any areas in which response could be improved and where staff and students need more education about preparedness, and the debriefing that follows the drills ensures that the efforts of all first responders are coordinated.

West Chicago Police Chief Laz Perez echoes the sentiments of all involved, "We hope never to have to put our emergency plan to the test, but having it in place is great peace of mind in our world today."

Any school district interested in learning more about how to create its own Emergency Management Plan may contact the office of Superintendant Leman at (630) 293-6000 x203.