Trustees press School District 129 for answers after student walkouts, cite police staffing concerns

During trustee comments the board devoted substantial time to recent student walkouts at local schools and the public‑safety implications for the village.

An unidentified trustee asked that a representative from School District 129 come before the board to explain current policies and any disciplinary repercussions for students leaving school unsupervised. The trustee said the issue raises a public‑safety concern because children were walking in traffic corridors and village police may be diverted from other calls when officers monitor those events.

Steve (village staff) said the village can email specific questions to District 129’s Department of Student and Family Services and requested trustees forward any questions to staff; he said the district’s student safety policy is publicly available on the district website. Joe, speaking for public safety, said the schools and superintendent offices coordinated messaging and that consequences for participating students can include loss of extracurricular activities, suspension and unexcused absences. Joe reported that 11 students left Jewell Middle School during a recent incident and most were picked up by family members.

Trustees expressed concern about recurring incidents — one trustee noted three walkouts in two weeks — and asked staff to seek a written contingency plan from the district if incidents continue. Some trustees said the school board is the appropriate venue for policy changes, while others emphasized cooperation between the village and district to ensure student safety and efficient use of police resources.

Next steps: staff said they will email District 129 with trustees’ questions, request a written response and circulate any reply to the board.