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Woodland CCSD 50 discusses adopting I Love You Guys emergency protocol, plans districtwide training
Summary
School leaders described the district's move toward the I Love You Guys standard response protocol to simplify crisis language (secure/lockdown/evacuate/hold), improve coordination with first responders and standardize reunification procedures; no formal board action was recorded.
District leaders presented the "I Love You Guys" standard response protocol and described plans to adopt its language and training across Woodland CCSD 50, coordinate with local law enforcement and run train‑the‑trainer sessions for staff.
The presenter said the protocol reduces complex crisis plans into simple, repeatable actions staff can perform without consulting long manuals. "The I Love You Guys Foundation cuts our crisis plan in half," the presenter said, adding the protocol emphasizes "muscle memory" so staff do prescribed actions automatically during an incident.
Key changes discussed included adding the protocol's "hold" action (to secure a specific area of the building without a full lockdown), clarifying that "lockdown" should indicate a full, hard lockdown while less-severe situations use the word "secure," and adopting the foundation's standard reunification procedures for reuniting students with families after an evacuation.
Administrators described practical implications: ensuring classroom doors can be locked from the inside, stockpiling "go kits" and state kits for extended lockdowns (flashlights, water, nonperishable snacks), and rehearsing reunification steps with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and American Red Cross. District officials said they completed a "train the trainer" session in August with county partners and plan to replicate training across buildings.
Staff also highlighted the value of shared regional adoption: using the same protocol across neighboring K–12 districts (so students and first responders use the same vocabulary) and coordinating training with the Gurnee Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Board members raised questions about implementation steps and praised the clarity the protocol offers; there was no formal vote recorded on policy adoption during the meeting. Staff said they will follow up with a districtwide training plan and timeline.
Why this matters: unified terminology and streamlined procedures are intended to reduce confusion during emergencies and improve coordination with law-enforcement partners; the district emphasized training, equipment and parent communication as next steps.
