Lake Forest School District 67
School Safety Newsletter

 

 School Safety Question #1:  VISITOR MANAGEMENT 


What are our expectations of visitors, including parents of our students, who come to school?

VISITOR MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL:  All visitors are required to do the following:
  • Enter through the designated visitor entrance (i.e., main entrance)
  • Sign in the visitor's log
  • Be ready to show school staff a picture ID
  • Visibly wear a visitor pass or ID badge
  • Observe all laws and policies while on our property
  • Sign out in the visitor's log
What should I do if I observe a person in the school without a visitor's badge? (The following information is also available in our emergency flipchart under 'Unauthorized Person').
  • If you are comfortable approaching the individual, please do so.  
  • You might want to ask a nearby staff member to accompany you. 
  • Identify yourself and your position and ask what the nature of the person's business is at the school.
"Hi, I'm Kim Jones, a math teacher here.  How may I help you?"
  • If the purpose is reasonable, inform the person that all visitors are required to sign in at the main office.
"I see that you haven't signed in yet.  Let me show you to the main office so you can get a visitor's badge."
  • Escort him/her to the office (if necessary, have someone cover your duties).  Do not assume he/she will get there on their own.
  • If the unauthorized person's purpose does not seem legitimate, ask him/her to leave and escort him/her to the closest exit door.
"I'm sorry but you'll need to leave.  You may contact the Principal's office to discuss the nature of your business, but for now, you need to exit here."
  • If he/she refuses, stalls, or becomes confrontational, the staff member should walk away and call the school office (using the nearest phone) for immediate assistance.  
  • Have a second staff member maintain a visual on the unauthorized person while you are contacting the office.
  • A soft lockdown should be commenced if a visitor refuses to cooperate or follow procedures.
  • If you suspect the unauthorized person may be armed or pose a threat, use the phone intercom system to initiate a hard lockdown immediately.
(Soft and hard lockdown procedures are available 
in our emergency flipcharts)

Thank you for your efforts in keeping our school community as safe as possible.

Sincerely,

Ingrid Wiemer
Executive Director of Student Services

Conrad Christensen
Lake Forest Police Officer/School Resource Officer (SRO)

Lake Forest School District 67
300 S. Waukegan Rd.
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
847-235-9657