By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A retired Bloomington Police officer, who’s in charge of school security in District 87, believes the school system is well on its way to meeting new state guidelines in planning for crisis situations.

Brian Evans, District 87’s Director of Safety and Security, says lockdown drills with law enforcement have to be finished within the first 90 days of the school year at all schools, and the state is requiring students participate in those drills.

“At the start of the next year, we will fall well within that 90 days, and for the last few years, especially down through the elementary level and junior high level, we’ve been doing it with staff and students for years,” said Evans.

“Now, the new mandate states it must be done with students,” Evans also said.

According to Evans, lesson plans are available to help teachers explain to younger kids that the lockdown drills are necessary to keep them safe.

“For the last three years, our staff had that access to lesson plans in order to help teach their kids what we’re doing and why we are doing lockdown law enforcement drills,” he added.

Evans updated District 87 school board members earlier this month about the district’s crisis plan.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]