Exterior Door Monitoring Technology for all Elementary Schools in Naperville District 204
The Issue
**URGENT FOR NAPERVILLE DISTRICT 204 PARENTS AND RESIDENTS**
On August 22, 2022, the second day of school, a kindergarten student with special needs said he needed to use the bathroom (time unknown) and was sent with a buddy (buddy unknown), opened an exterior door (door unknown) and left the premises (time unknown) and WALKED ALL THE WAY HOME (route unknown). The Mother of this child was alerted by the ring doorbell and was understandably shaken and confused. Upon immediately calling the school she learned that they WERE NOT EVEN AWARE HE WAS NOT IN THE BUILDING.
How could something like this happen in one of the highest rated and well-funded school districts in the country? The answer is shocking. This tragic event happened because there is NO EXTERIOR DOOR MONITORING TECHNOLOGY implemented at any of the elementary schools. Other than each elementary school’s front door, which is monitored by cameras, intercoms and door access protections, NO OTHER EXTERIOR DOORS are monitored by cameras, sensors, chimes or any other alerts. In addition, there are no other exterior cameras monitoring the school grounds other than directly on the front door.
What is stopping an elementary student from opening a door and leaving the premises? Nothing. What is stopping an elementary student from opening a door for someone they know or don’t know that well? Nothing. Would the school be aware in either of those scenarios? No. What’s worse? How could it get worse? Read on.
It has also been learned that these exterior doors, which are not monitored, are, at times, “not engaged.” What does this term mean? It means the door appears shut but the locking mechanism is “not engaged” so the door could be pulled open from the outside. Again, absent any form of monitoring. School staff now regularly pull on the doors to ensure they are “engaged”. Does this sound like cutting edge facility security protocols? This is the last line of defense protecting the students. At several parent safety briefings, district employees stated that the number one deterrent of school shootings is…. Any guesses? A LOCKED DOOR. “Not Engaged” = “Not Locked”.
This incident has shed light on multiple monitoring blind spots and inadequate security measures at Naperville District 204 elementary schools. The urgent need for the Implementation of Exterior Door Monitoring Technology for all Elementary Schools in Naperville District 204 is apparent.
By signing this petition, you are joining in urging the Superintendent, District Administrators and Elected School Board Members to take immediate action to ensure PREVENTABLE incidents like this do not occur moving forward through the IMPLEMENTATION OF EXTERIOR DOOR MONIITORING TECHONLOGY FOR ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN NAPERVILLE DISTRICT 204.
The student who left on the second day of school was my son. This is our story. This is our trauma. This is our mission.
Please support us and all the other students and teachers by signing this petition. Thank you.
The Issue
**URGENT FOR NAPERVILLE DISTRICT 204 PARENTS AND RESIDENTS**
On August 22, 2022, the second day of school, a kindergarten student with special needs said he needed to use the bathroom (time unknown) and was sent with a buddy (buddy unknown), opened an exterior door (door unknown) and left the premises (time unknown) and WALKED ALL THE WAY HOME (route unknown). The Mother of this child was alerted by the ring doorbell and was understandably shaken and confused. Upon immediately calling the school she learned that they WERE NOT EVEN AWARE HE WAS NOT IN THE BUILDING.
How could something like this happen in one of the highest rated and well-funded school districts in the country? The answer is shocking. This tragic event happened because there is NO EXTERIOR DOOR MONITORING TECHNOLOGY implemented at any of the elementary schools. Other than each elementary school’s front door, which is monitored by cameras, intercoms and door access protections, NO OTHER EXTERIOR DOORS are monitored by cameras, sensors, chimes or any other alerts. In addition, there are no other exterior cameras monitoring the school grounds other than directly on the front door.
What is stopping an elementary student from opening a door and leaving the premises? Nothing. What is stopping an elementary student from opening a door for someone they know or don’t know that well? Nothing. Would the school be aware in either of those scenarios? No. What’s worse? How could it get worse? Read on.
It has also been learned that these exterior doors, which are not monitored, are, at times, “not engaged.” What does this term mean? It means the door appears shut but the locking mechanism is “not engaged” so the door could be pulled open from the outside. Again, absent any form of monitoring. School staff now regularly pull on the doors to ensure they are “engaged”. Does this sound like cutting edge facility security protocols? This is the last line of defense protecting the students. At several parent safety briefings, district employees stated that the number one deterrent of school shootings is…. Any guesses? A LOCKED DOOR. “Not Engaged” = “Not Locked”.
This incident has shed light on multiple monitoring blind spots and inadequate security measures at Naperville District 204 elementary schools. The urgent need for the Implementation of Exterior Door Monitoring Technology for all Elementary Schools in Naperville District 204 is apparent.
By signing this petition, you are joining in urging the Superintendent, District Administrators and Elected School Board Members to take immediate action to ensure PREVENTABLE incidents like this do not occur moving forward through the IMPLEMENTATION OF EXTERIOR DOOR MONIITORING TECHONLOGY FOR ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN NAPERVILLE DISTRICT 204.
The student who left on the second day of school was my son. This is our story. This is our trauma. This is our mission.
Please support us and all the other students and teachers by signing this petition. Thank you.
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Petition created on November 29, 2022