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Board hears safety briefing on digital mapping, camera upgrades and weapons-detection pilot
Summary
District safety director briefed the Valley View board on digital mapping compliance, a seven-year camera replacement cycle, reunification exercises, SRO training under Senate Bill 1519, and a non-invasive weapons-detection pilot tested at a recent basketball game.
The Valley View CUSD 365U board received a detailed safety and security briefing from Director Dr. Carter Larry on March 23 covering several ongoing and planned initiatives.
Digital mapping and cameras: Dr. Larry said the district is now compliant with state-mandated digital mapping and is planning a seven-year cycle to expand and replace its camera footprint, noting some cameras date to 2004.
Weapons-detection pilot and event testing: Dr. Larry described a recent trial of a non-invasive weapons-detection system at a Bowling Brook basketball game. He said the system is designed to detect items with the mass/consistency of a firearm without intrusive searches and that it moved large crowds efficiently: "...we were able to get everyone within the game prior to start of the game itself," he said, and that the unit processed several thousand people in under an hour during demonstrations.
Reunification and training: The district has conducted reunification tabletop exercises with Will County and uses the standard reunification system identified in Illinois guidance. Dr. Larry also reviewed training updates tied to Senate Bill 1519 for school resource officers and described a continuous professional-development regimen for security staff emphasizing de-escalation, Stop the Bleed, CPR, and CPI crisis intervention.
Traffic and life-safety priorities: He highlighted traffic congestion at early childhood centers as an operational safety concern the district is coordinating with local villages and police departments to mitigate.
What the board asked: Members requested clarification on where weapons-detection equipment would be deployed (main entrances prioritized) and asked for follow-up cost, deployment, and privacy details before any broader roll-out.
Next steps: Administration plans to present life-safety system proposals, camera replacement schedules, and procurement recommendations at a future board meeting for approval.
