Parents, administration give security views

HUNTLEY — The matter of school security, from the board of education meetings, to family conversations, and Facebook posts, remains a concern at Huntley School District 158.

A third district school, Chesak Elementary School in Lake in the Hills, experienced a Hold in Place and Teach lockdown on March 15, the third such incident after two at neighbor Martin Elementary March 9 and 10. As in the instances at Martin, the Lake in the Hills police  thoroughly investigated the one-hour Chesak Hold in Place and Teach lockdown  and, “no threat to students or staff was present,” according to press releases from the police and the school district.

District 158 statement

“Chesak Elementary School was placed on a Hold in Place and Teach lockdown at about 2 p.m. March 15 to investigate a threatening piece of graffiti found in our school referencing the presence of a weapon on schoolgrounds. Huntley 158’s administrative team responded swiftly and worked with the Lake in the Hills Police Department to conduct a thorough search of the building and were able to determine that no threat to student or staff safety was present. The lockdown was lifted at approximately 3:35 p.m. During the lockdown, students remained learning safely in their classrooms and families were provided multiple update regarding the progress of the investigation.”

School Board meeting discussion

The security situations were a topic for parents during public comment and administrators and the school board president in their reports March 16.

“The perception of the district is crumbling around us,” parent Carrie Cross said. “The district has a stranglehold on the town, the superintendent reports to the board and the staff reports to the superintendent. We have a problem and we have to fix it.”

“It is very frustrating for all of us. These are situations we take very, very seriously,” Huntley District 158 Superintendent Dr. Scott Rowe said.

Rowe stressed the importance of families talking about what is appropriate and what is not at school.

“Because of one family’s conversation, we were able to resolve one situation,” Rowe said. “But we can’t disclose the nature of the actions because the parties involved have their rights.”

Rowe explained at the board meeting the steps involved in a school security situation.

“This message was reported to our building administration and then to our Chief Security Officer, who notified our district administration team and placed the building in a Hold in Place and Teach lockdown to keep student safe. At that time the matter is turned over to, in these instances, the Lake in the Hills Police Department,” Rowe said.

School Board President Anthony Quagliano also commented on the school security situations. “These matters are not taken lightly,” he said. “The administration is working very diligently.

Board member Melissa Maioraino asked if there is a difference between a “clear the area” situation to help a student calm down as opposed to a Hold in Place and Teach. In the clear the area case, a district crisis team handles the matter, administrators said.

In other school board matters:

The school board voted to approve administrative contracts. They were for HHS Principal Dr. Marcus Belin, 2023-26; Assistant Superintendent Deanna Gill, 2023-26 and District Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer Mark Altmayer, 2023-2028.