Speaking with Stawick
Speaking with Stawick is the blog of District 146 Superintendent Dr. Jeff Stawick. Please subscribe for update notifications to be sure you don't miss the latest news and information from the administration.

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It has been a year unlike any other. Although 2020 began normally, March brought everyone many challenges to face. Our teachers, staff, and families stepped up to help our students continue learning at home for the remainder of the school year. The District 146 community pulled together hosting drive-by parades, virtual clubs, and even a recognition event for our graduating eighth grade class in an effort to bring joy and a sense of normalcy.

As it became obvious the 2020-2021 school year would have to begin remotely, our administration and teachers worked together to develop an enhanced remote learning plan for our students. As the second trimester grew closer, we determined our students could safely return to in-person learning. Once again, our administration and teachers came through and put together a hybrid experience that allowed all families who chose it, a chance for their children to return to the classroom.

Since then, our families and staff have done a remarkable job keeping our COVID-19 positive cases down, and our cases of on-campus close contacts very low. By monitoring for symptoms, keeping students who aren’t feeling well at home, and completing daily health and temperature checks, we have so far avoided any major outbreaks. You can follow these statistics by visiting our COVID-19 Dashboard, which is updated weekly.

As most cases are being traced to personal and community events and gatherings outside of school, please continue to carefully consider nonessential activities and observe the advice of health experts who remind us to practice social distancing and wear a mask. If our families and staff remain vigilant and cautious, the number of positive cases at our schools will remain low.   

I am so grateful for our teachers, staff, administrators, and families for the efforts you have all taken to continue offering our students a quality education. My wish for 2021 is that you all remain healthy and happy, and that we can return safely to normal school as soon as possible. Happy Holidays and I wish you a wonderful new year.
Posted by superintendent  On Dec 23, 2020 at 4:23 PM
  

I’m sure you’ve heard it before. “If you see something, say something.” The phrase was developed by the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to help citizens be active in keeping our schools and neighborhoods safe.

With recent events close to home, the phrase takes on a special meaning. I feel like it is an appropriate time to send a reminder to students, families, staff, and community members to follow this advice. If you see something, say something.

When reporting suspicious activity, whether it be to 911, a school official, or police officer, always remember to be as specific as possible when describing what you observed. If possible, include:

  • Who or What you saw
  • When you saw it
  • Where it occurred
  • Why you feel it is suspicious

Please explain the importance of this concept with your children. Our students may be the first to hear or see something, and should always feel comfortable reporting anything suspicious to their teacher, principal, or other school staff. 

At times, it may seem like raising the alarm is an overreaction. However, we would much rather be safe than sorry and there is no harm in a false alarm. Please join me and everyone at District 146 in keeping our schools safe. Always remember: If you see something, say something.

Posted by superintendent  On Feb 19, 2019 at 11:05 AM
  
Last spring, I met with the District’s PTA/PTO officers and other parents to discuss school safety. We talked about many of the measures we have in place in our schools to maintain a safe learning environment. The parents who attended the breakfast were appreciative of our efforts, and also offered great feedback. 

One suggestion was to better communicate our common terms to our families, particularly when it comes to lockdowns. Here are the most frequent terms we use to categorize and communicate emergencies within the buildings.

Lockout 
A lockout is declared when there is a potential external threat to the buildings, students, or staff. In this case, we deny any entry into the school, but normal activities within the school continue as planned. A lockout may be declared if there was a local robbery close to one of our buildings, or the like. 

Hold-in-Place/Soft Lockdown
Terminology may vary by building depending on local first-responder and building Incident Response Team preferences.
These terms refer to situations that require students and staff to remain in their classrooms, but normal in-class activities continue. Soft lockdowns may be called if an ambulance is called to the school for an adult or student. To allow easy passage, students and staff must remain in their classrooms.

Lockdown/Hard Lockdown 
Terminology may vary by building depending on local first-responder and building Incident Response Team preferences.
A lockdown/Hard Lockdown is declared during a situation that potentially threatens the safety of students or staff. During a lockdown, everyone must remain in place and be prepared to engage in an emergency plan. Police are called for assistance during a lockdown.

These terms are also available on the District website. You can click here to review this webpage.

Keeping our children safe and maintaining a safe learning environment is always our first priority. As our greatest partners, we encourage you to monitor social media accounts, report strangers on campus, and inform us of any threats or concerns about school safety. Together, we can keep our schools safe.

Have a great year!
Posted by superintendent  On Sep 24, 2018 at 12:01 PM
  
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