PEORIA, Ill. — It’s a time of excitement for many families this week as thousands of school kids head back to class for the fall.
Schools with the newly expanded annual calendar are starting this week, including Peoria Public Schools on Wednesday.
Regional Schools Superintendent Beth Crider says families will notice some changes surrounding school security. “You might see some new door locks or some new coverings on windows and things like that in order to make the school buildings safer.”
She says law enforcement and school administrators in central Illinois and in Peoria are not messing around with the threat of potential mass school shootings.
“If a student makes a threat, the Sheriff said they will send a deputy out to that home. It’s that significant now.”
And parents who haven’t kept close tabs on their child’s social media activity or perhaps their mental health struggles may be taken aback if it happens.
Crider tells WMBD News already this week there has been a gathering of school administrators, law enforcement and public health officials from all across the region, specifically focused toward discussing school safety issues.
She says last year’s COVID-19 rules will also be in place again at many schools, including the familiar 5 day mandatory isolation for any child who is infected.
The general message from top school administrators and public health specialists is to keep your child home from school if they exhibit significant symptoms of any illnesses.
Crider added that for many families, it will be challenging to navigate the newly expanded annual calendar, but that she expects the difficulties will fade over time.
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