Threats and weapons incidents at Glenbard East HS raise safety concerns – NBC Chicago

Parents of students at Glenbard East High School in the western suburb of Lombard have raised the alarm after safety concerns arose three times within two weeks.

Several parents are therefore pushing for increased security measures at the school.

“Our children cannot learn in such an environment,” says Kirsten Friedrichs. “It makes you nervous.”

Friedrich's daughter is currently a student, and her other two children have been to this school before. But she has never experienced this kind of fear before.

“Every morning when I drop her off, I tell her I love her,” she said. “Because I don't know if it will be the last time or not.”

The first scare occurred on September 10, when a gun was found in the boys' bathroom. This led to increased police presence and the arrest of a 14-year-old boy who faces felony charges.

A few days later, a visitor to the school made a comment about a concealed weapons permit. Although there was no threat to the school, authorities found a gun in the person's car.

And on Friday, threats on social media led to the school being placed on lockdown – no one was allowed to leave or enter the building.

The school has made several changes to security measures following the incidents. Students are not allowed to bring backpacks into the stadium for football games and purses may be searched. Additionally, visitors are not allowed to re-enter the stadium.

Some parents believe that these steps are not enough.

“As sad as it is, I wouldn't mind metal detectors or some kind of metal detector,” said Friedrichs. “The lines in front of the school might be longer in the morning, but then at least I know that no one is carrying a weapon on the premises.”

Parents started a petition to enforce these measures.

David Larson, superintendent of Glenbard's 87th District, issued the following statement to NBC 5 on Monday.

“Given recent incidents, we understand it has been an emotional and stressful time for students, staff and families. The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We want to express our gratitude to leaders, staff and students for their heightened vigilance and adherence to our safety protocols. We are confident in our systems, structures and protocols for overall safety. These recent incidents validate the strength of our overall safety plan. They also help us continue to enhance our comprehensive safety approach for our school community.”

Parents plan to raise safety concerns during Glenbard Township High School District 87's board meeting Monday night.