From the Superintendent

Dear Winnetka Families and Staff,

I am writing to make you aware that the New Trier Winnetka Campus moved staff and students into a “Hold” Protocol this morning as police worked with the school to address the needs of an individual on campus. A “Hold” protocol is utilized when hallways or shared spaces need to be kept clear of occupants. This is not the same as a lockdown, which is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place. I was in swift contact with the Winnetka Chief of Police who assured me that there was no safety threat to our campuses and that the situation was being managed by the police. The hold was released fairly quickly as a result.

While communication is faster than ever, and helps us to be internally in contact with our Township neighbors and law enforcement, it also has the ability to externally spread incorrect information at the same rate, adding additional alarm to the situation. When we become aware of an emergency situation in or near our schools, our immediate attention becomes focused on ensuring that our staff, students and buildings are safe and secure. That happens effectively because of the partnerships we have within the township and with our first responders. At no time were any of our buildings moved into a safety protocol today as there was never a safety threat to our campuses.

News like this is always frightening to hear, but it’s important that all understand that this incident was isolated to an individual who received the timely support they needed. Our collective commitment to upholding our safety protocols on campus is the most important action we can take to ensure the safety of all. If you, your student or child see something concerning, report it to someone who can help immediately. Any community member can text “D36Help” to 814-823-5323 and be connected by text message with a licensed social worker within approximately 3 minutes. While we encourage students, staff and families to report concerns within our schools, allowing us to follow our internal safety protocol, we also want to ensure there is awareness of this reporting option outside of school hours.

Thank you for your shared commitment to keeping our schools safe places for our students and staff to learn and work. We remain grateful for a strong partnership with Winnetka’s first responders, and look forward to a great school year ahead.

Most Sincerely,

Dr. Kelly Tess

Superintendent of Schools