DARIEN, IL — Weapons screening that began before Thanksgiving at Hinsdale South High School has been randomly extended to Hinsdale Central, an official said Thursday.
This week, Hinsdale Central conducted a “nearly unannounced” weapons screening at Central, Superintendent Michael Lach told the school board. Central’s staff was informed the night before, while students were told the day of the screening, he said.
“Part of the strategy is to keep people on their toes,” Lach said. “That element of surprise was something to investigate. Generally, we pulled it off.”
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
On Nov. 21, a Hinsdale South student was found with a loaded gun in the dean’s office, authorities said. The 16-year-old Willowbrook boy was later charged with felonies.
A long line of students is outside Hinsdale South High School on a recent day as they wait for weapons detection screening. (Hinsdale High School District 86)
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Shortly afterward, the school announced it was deploying its weapons detection system every day until at least the Thanksgiving break.
The incident led to an outcry from South parents for more security. During a meeting, they demanded the screening be kept permanently.
Click Here: LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE CLUB BACKPACK ANTIQUE PINK 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WOMEN
Lach said the security staff is getting better with the detection system. They have learned that students should pose Statue of Liberty-style with their laptops over their heads to avoid setting off the system, he said.
In the last couple of days, Lach said, the school moved the system farther inside so that students don’t have to wait out in the cold.
One issue is that long lines have led to students being tardy, he said.
The district has 19 security employees, 14 of whom are armed, Lach said.
Other elements of the district’s security plan must be kept secret from the public to keep the information away from those who would do harm, he said.
He said he understood the public’s frustration at being unable to get more information.
“I know many people in the community and many board members want specifics of certain students,” Lach said. “I’m going to keep that zipped up. We can’t talk about individual students. They have a right to privacy. Their families have a right to privacy.”
During public comments, school board candidate Liz Mitha, a Darien resident, praised school officials for having conversations on improving security.
“Speaking as a community member who has guns at home myself, the onus is on us first to store our guns safely to keep them away from children,” she said. “We need to keep them unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition.”
Hinsdale South High School students go through a weapons detection system on a recent day. Such screening started after a student was found with a loaded gun last month. (Hinsdale High School District 86)
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.