Johnson County agencies coordinate to strengthen school safety plans

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ill., (KBSI) — The Johnson County community continues to make school safety a top priority through coordinated planning and regular emergency preparedness drills involving schools, agencies and community partners.

In 2016, local schools, agencies and community organizations formed Quarterly School Safety Meetings, which later evolved into the Johnson County Cabinet for Children and Youth. Stakeholders include Arrowleaf, county officials, law enforcement, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Regional Office of Education #21, local churches and other partners. The group works to identify concerns and implement proactive measures aimed at ensuring student safety countywide.

One key partner in those efforts is the Johnson County Highway Department, led by County Highway Engineer Brandon Tanner. The Cabinet developed and implemented Emergency Perimeter Control Maps and reunification practices, creating detailed emergency plans that include annotated school floor plans and aerial campus maps for use by emergency personnel and first responders.

Officer David Stewart of the Vienna Police Department said the involvement of the highway department has proven especially valuable in a rural county with limited emergency resources.

“Because our school system covers a large geographic area, we have a limited number of police, ambulance and volunteer fire personnel,” Stewart said. “By involving the highway department, emergency responders can stay focused on their primary responsibilities. Their availability during school hours and their large vehicles make them well suited for traffic and perimeter control.”

Stewart said the plans are regularly practiced through drills that test communication, response times and coordination among school staff and local agencies. A recent drill confirmed the plans worked as intended, including the use of county highway trucks to secure a school campus perimeter.

Officer Carl Manley, lead school resource officer, said a recent exercise at Cypress Elementary School demonstrated the effectiveness of the approach.

“The drill went very well, the response time was strong, and county employees knew exactly where to go without any instruction,” Manley said. “A call through the Johnson County Sheriff’s Dispatch set the entire process in motion.”

Manley said perimeter control drills have now been completed at Vienna High School, Vienna Grade School, New Simpson Hill School District 32 and Cypress Elementary School, with Buncombe Grade School scheduled next. He said all county schools are expected to complete the drill by the end of the school year.

Tanner said the highway department is committed to supporting school safety efforts.

“We are glad to be a part of ensuring the safety and protection of our children and schools,” he said.

Superintendent Dr. Joshua Stafford said the planning highlights the importance of community collaboration.

“While we all go about our normal routines, there is constantly work happening in the background,” Stafford said. “It takes everyone to create a strong school environment, and it’s reassuring to know this level of preparation is in place.”