Valley View Adding Security Measures Thanks to State Grant

Valley View School District 365U said Tuesday it has received a nearly $440,000 Illinois Emergency Management Agency grant to further enhance security in its 22-school system.

“Our primary focus is, and always has been, keeping students and staff as safe as possible,” said VVSD School Safety Coordinator Leroy Brown. “We deeply appreciate being considered for this grant.”

 “In recent years, we’ve seen deadly shootings across the country at  college campuses, high schools and even elementary schools. Unfortunately we know that these types of events can happen anywhere at any time,” Sen. Kirk Dillard said in a statement announcing of more than $1 million in grants through the IEMA’s Illinois School and Campus Safety Grant Program. “These grant dollars will be used to improve baseline security measures, particularly at school entryways, so parents can breathe a little easier when they send their kids off to school.”

Brown indicated VVSD will use the grant money to enhance security at entrances and exits in all VVSD schools.

Among the projects that will get underway this summer are:

• Installation of cameras at the main and secondary entrances of all schools as well as video monitoring equipment
• Installation of audible alarms on secondary exit doors in all schools including main office panels that will alert staff that someone is trying to open the door
• Standardization of the hallway lockdown alarm tone in every school.
• Installation of blue lockdown indicator lights at the main and secondary entrances of all schools.

 “We are also looking at the feasibility of installing reinforced glass in the main entrances of some of our buildings,” Brown said.

Work on the projects is expected to begin sometime later this summer and continue throughout the next school year.