CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Chicago Public Schools Thursday held a realistic safety exercise at Julian High School on the Far South Side.
The purpose of the drill was to allow first responders and school staff an opportunity to practice coordination should it become necessary in an active shooter type scenario.
“It will feel real to the participants and it will allow us to pressure test our response,” CPS Chief Safety and Security Officer Jadine Chou said.
This active shooter drill at Julian was the first of its kind. All emergency responders have been on deck since 2018, but more fully simulated safety exercises are to come.
Chou told reporters, while unveiling the new CPS safety and security plan, that each school must hold 6 drills per year, some focused on fire, tornado, and even allergy response.
The new plan provides safety tips for parents along with protocols in the event of emergency situations such as an active shooter, said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.
“None of us want to imagine an incident of gun violence in our schools but recent mass-shootings like we’ve seen in Uvalde and nearby Highland Park have brought these concerns front and center,” Martinez said.
Preparing for such scenarios is just one part of the new safety plan, said Martinez. There is also a strong focus on emotional support and mental health.
“We know that this multi-prong system is what allows students to feel a sense of belonging at school and that this feeling of safety and connectedness is what will help accelerate student learning,” said Martinez.
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