Jadine Chou, chief safety and security officer of Chicago Public Schools, speaks about school safety on Aug. 18, 2022, at Percy L. Julian High School on the Far South Side before CPS conducted an active shooter drill with CPD, CFD and OEMC.
“When they send their children back to school this Monday, families need to know that there is a plan to keep their students safe,” CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said during a news conference at Percy Julian High School in Washington Heights.Without going into much detail, CPS announced a new partnership with Safer Schools Together, an agency that delivers digital threat assessment, violence and bullying prevention training to schools and communities.
Chou said CPS conducts 3,800 annual drills — including fire, tornado, allergen and active shooter drills. Every school is required to conduct at least six of them each year. Staff members and teachers volunteered their participation Thursday, but there were no students on hand, as these drills “can be traumatizing” to children, Chou said.Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon.