District 58 staff and Downers Grove emergency responders meet annually and as needed to review District 58’s emergency management procedures. Updates are recommended based on national emergency response best practices and the unique safety needs of District 58.

District 58 also has a Threat Assessment Team comprised of administrators, social workers, other school staff and Downers Grove police.

Any emergency procedure updates are communicated to administrators and principals, who review the plan with their teachers and staff at the start of the school year, and as needed throughout the year.

A primary safety component of the emergency plan requires that plan details only be available to employees and emergency responders.

Teachers keep copies of a summarized emergency classroom action guide, which they can quickly reference during actual emergency situations. These guides are also available to, and reviewed with, substitutes.

District 58 schools regularly review school safety and behavior expectations with students in an age-appropriate manner. Safety presentations promote respectful, responsible and safe behaviors and discuss school visitor protocols, technology safety, harassment and bullying, prohibited items, threats, when and where expectations apply, and consequences. 

 The District offers Safe2Help, a monitored system where students can safely and confidentially report a crisis, threat or bullying involving themselves or someone they know. District 58 schools also have social workers, behavior specialists, school psychologists and counselors on staff to support students.

 District 58 schools practice a variety of safety drills throughout the year to ensure everyone is prepared if an emergency occurs. The safety drills include: fire drills, tornado/severe weather drills, bus evacuation drills and active threat drills. Drills are designed to educate and prepare students. Schools take precautions to avoid scaring students during drills. Building principals will notify parents when a safety drill occurs, either by email or newsletter.

Schools screen all visitors using the Raptor System, and all staff and approved visitors wear a District 58 color-coded lanyard with their identification.

District 58 is in the process of building more secured entrances at all schools, using funding from the District’s successful fall 2022 referendum.