SYCAMORE – High school students will discuss school safety with Sycamore School District 427 Board members during a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Superintendent Kathy Countryman said school administrators have been talking with students about school safety since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February and before hundreds of local students participated in walk-outs about gun violence in March.
“It’s just to talk about ways to address school safety from a student perspective,” Countryman said.
Countryman said those talking points involve possibly limiting the number of school entrances students use, making sure staff is diligent about who enters the building and reinforcing the rule prohibiting carrying backpacks during passing periods. She said the student-led discussion also will key on ways to keep a culture of kindness at the high school and work in more socioemotional learning opportunities.
Nick Reineck, dean of students at Sycamore High School and adviser for the student-led committee, said the school challenges students to become leaders in the community.
“This is one area where some seniors jumped out front and wanted to do that,” Reineck said.
Reineck said one change that immediately took effect at the school after the student committee discussions after the Parkland shooting was requiring students to scan their IDs whenever they enter or leave the building during the school day.
Reineck said administrators are proud of the group of seniors who came forward and decided to lead these school safety discussions.
“Sometimes during the second semester at this point, they’re ready to move on,” Reineck said. “This group has really wanted to leave their mark on the school in terms of safety and security.”
The board meeting will start at
7 p.m. Tuesday in the Administration Building, 245 W. Exchange St., Sycamore. For information, call 815-895-8100.