GUNS at Waukegan High School

[TeacherThoughts]

This is posted on the district website
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wps60.org/newsbeat60/article.php?id=212">http://www.wps60.org/newsbeat60/article.php?id=212</a><!-- m -->

Waukegan Public Schools wish to inform parents and community members about an incident that occurred today, Wednesday, October 21, at the high school’s Washington Campus. This incident resulted in a late dismissal of students.

At around 2 p.m., a physical education teacher at the high school was informed that a student in the locker room had a handgun on campus. The teacher informed the school’s School Resource Officer, who identified the subject and chased him outside of the building, where he was apprehended and the gun was recovered without incident, said William Newby, Director of Campus Relations, Operations, Staff and Student Safety for District 60.

During the course of an investigation by the Waukegan Police Department, it was learned that a second student at the school may also have a gun on his person. Due to the circumstances, school officials were forced to “lock down” the Washington Campus, while they searched the school for the student and the reported gun. Because of the lock down, students were forced to remain inside their respective classrooms at all times.

After searching the campus for several hours, no gun was recovered, and administrators released the school’s 1,500 students classroom-by-classroom through metal detectors. By 5 p.m. the campus was clear of students, and officials began searching all lockers.

“We can reasonably guarantee that every crevice of the school has been checked,” Newby said of the search effort.

Since students were not allowed to return to their lockers following the lock down, PACE bus services will allow students to ride to school Thursday morning without a bus pass.

Because of the nature of this incident, District 60 has canceled all events scheduled at the Washington Campus for this evening. Classes will resume Thursday morning, and parents are assured that their children's safety will continue to be a top priority.

[Bulldog 92]

i am a student who was at the building. Here is was happened. There were 2 guns brought into school by freshman. They were in the boys locker room. A gym teacher saw it and caught one of the kids and the other one took off. Half way through seventh period the school was put on a lockdown. We were locked in our classrooms for about 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours. The security and police had to check the school and lockers for the other gun. Classes were let out one by one and upon leaving the building we walked through metal detectors and put our bags through a scanner.
I should not have to be scared to go to school. The administration did a good job reacting to this, but how did the guns get in??? I am a senior and so far many things have been ruined for me this year. First the school changed to a new program which they were not ready to do (half the kids didnt get schedules until the 2nd week of school, second the bonfire was canceled because of gangs, third the guns, and 4th my vball senior night was canceled. It is still the 1st quarter of school.

I know that a transition during your Senior year can be difficult, been there done that. YOU WILL SURVIVE..... not that that helps any. Many of us made it through the first transition, ripped from East and moved to WEST campus 1991-1992. I It was handeled professionally and it is only the first quarter. Hang in there....... and keep "snitchn" people. This is the only way the we can say we're not gonna take it....Get out of our schools!

[fedupinwaukegan]

Here is an update. Somebody told me once they believed at least 60% of the students, girls and boys, were gang bangers, had some affiliations. If four students have been arrested imagine how much more there are... This is a crisis.



Four students charged in Waukegan High lockdown
Comments

October 22, 2009
BY KENDRICK MARSHALL <!-- e --><a href="mailto:kmarshall@snc1.com">kmarshall@snc1.com</a><!-- e -->

Four Waukegan High School students are charged today with unlawful use of a weapon, the day after a report of a student with a gun at the Washington Street campus led to a lockdown at the school.

Three 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been taken to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills. All four face a Class 4 felony charge.

Three 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been taken to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills. All four face a Class 4 felony charge.

The incident began at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after police say a student reported to a physical education teacher that another student in the boys locker room was carrying a handgun.

» Click to enlarge image
Students look out a window as they wait to be dismissed at Waukegan High School, the Washington Street Campus during a lockdown at the school.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)

RELATED STORIES
• Gun in school

The incident began at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after police say a student reported to a physical education teacher that another student in the boys locker room was carrying a handgun.

The teacher saw a group of teens standing together in the locker room, one of whom was holding the handgun. When the student saw the teacher approaching he ran out of the locker room, with the teacher in pursuit, calling for the School Resource Officer.

The student ran out of the building and was caught by the teacher near Victory Street and Glen Rock Avenue. The teacher turned over the student and the unloaded 9mm handgun to the Resource Officer.

The school was then placed on lockdown as a precaution while school security and police looked for a reported second gun. That weapon was not found after several hours of searching.

Authorities said further investigation into the location of the second gun in the school revealed that the gun was removed from the school by a student prior to police arrival.

The student that reportedly removed that gun is one of those arrested in this incident, police said.

That second gun has yet to be recovered.

Waukegan High Principal Steve Hamlin said that an internal investigation revealed it is likely the first gun was brought into the school through an unsecured door or window.

Hamlin said messages were sent to parents that the school was on lockdown and later that the students were being released from school.

As a result, school security was beefed up Thursday with extra personnel stationed at various locations around the building.

All students were ushered through metal detectors and scanners at the main entrance of the school.

Hamlin said the school is currently testing magnetic doors that will prevent students from leaving the building without authorization or trying to bypass metal detectors.

If the test is successful the doors will be implemented as soon as possible.

Staff members will have magnetic key cards to open the doors, and panic buttons will automatically unlock the doors in case of a fire or other emergency.

Magnetic doors are currently being used at Waukegan High School's Brookside Campus.

"I think parents understand we are doing what we are supposed to do," said William Newby, executive director of safety and security at the school. "It is very disconcerting that a student would be bold enough to bring a gun to school, but it is not totally uncommon...it happens in rural and urban areas."

While Newby realizes some students will attempt to breach security by bringing guns or contraband to school, he said the key is prevention and then quickly responding when something happens.

"We have a well-informed staff," said Newby. "This was no small operation, and everyone from security to teachers to police did a wonderful job of responding to the situation."

Newby said District 60 has been continually upgrading security measures and providing the latest cutting edge materials and information in regards to crisis management as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education.

"We are not perfect, but we do a pretty good job when it comes to safety," Newby said.

During yesterday's incident, all of the students were housed inside the 1011 Washington St. building until the weapons search was completed.

Just after 4 p.m. the 1,500 students exited one class at a time through metal detectors for dismissal.

By 5 p.m., the campus was cleared of all students and officials began a locker search detail. No other weapons were uncovered.

Lt. Edward Fitzgerald said besides the initial student observed with the gun, "the three other students were charged based on the fact that at some point they each handled the gun."

Police are not disclosing why the gun was brought to school, saying students interviewed during the investigation gave conflicting statements. Also, schools officials are not expected to take disciplinary actions against the students involved until a complete investigation has concluded.

If convicted of the Class 4 felony, the teens face a one to three year sentence.

[Penguin40]

[quote="fedupinwaukegan"]
Waukegan High Principal Steve Hamlin said that an internal investigation revealed it is likely the first gun was brought into the school through an unsecured door or window.

Ok, why would there be an unsecured door?? Windows, maybe...Idk...


Hamlin said the school is currently testing magnetic doors that will prevent students from leaving the building without authorization or trying to bypass metal detectors.

If the test is successful the doors will be implemented as soon as possible.

Staff members will have magnetic key cards to open the doors, and panic buttons will automatically unlock the doors in case of a fire or other emergency.

Magnetic doors are currently being used at Waukegan High School's Brookside Campus.

Ok, now this is the most stupid thing I've ever heard!!! Why on earth do they need to test this??? By their own admission it's being used at the Brookside campus. ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME???? So now that brings up a whole other slew of questions....1. didn't they test this before putting it in at Brookside? 2. Are our kids under false sense of security at Brookside cuz obviously they threw this in without testing it? 3. If the test comes up negative or bad, will they take these doors out of Brookside??

Newby said District 60 has been continually upgrading security measures and providing the latest cutting edge materials and information in regards to crisis management as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education.

"We are not perfect, but we do a pretty good job when it comes to safety," Newby said.

Oh yea, the 'Big L" is a fortress compared to where the secuurity SHOULD be!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Harold]

I'm sure we will hear through the grapevine the identity of these students. The question is: Will our juvenile court system give them the punishment they deserve? Or, will they decide these teenage miscreants deserve another chance and send them back to school. Judging from how unruly our streets and neighborhoods have become here in the 1st thru 6th wards of Waukegan, I am convinced it will be the latter. Since the vast majority of gang members are latinos, I believe the legal status of these criminal juvenile deliquents and their parents should be verified and if found to not be in order they should be given immediate transportation back to their country of origin. As parents and long time taxpayers we deserve a resolution to our current, dire dilemma. Come on, School Board-- Come on, City, what are you afraid of? Or, perhaps, this is what our country is going to look more and more like under the new rule of the "Progressives."

[fedupinwaukegan]

Any more news Harold? Here is more about the teacher. The principal said that bringing the guns was more a case of show and tell. Doesn't make it any less wrong in my mind as a parent of a student.



'Kind of teacher I would want my kids to have'
Waukegan High teacher who nabbed gunman lauded
Comments

October 29, 2009
By JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->

WAUKEGAN -- Waukegan High School teacher Craig DeLost didn't stop to consider his own safety when he chased down a student who brought a 9mm semiautomatic handgun to school.

"It was one of those deals where you're not thinking too much, obviously," said DeLost, 35, the father of three young children. "Afterwards, I guess, I was pretty nervous."

The head varsity baseball coach and PE instructor was presented a letter of commendation from the Waukegan Police Department on Wednesday for his actions on the afternoon of Oct. 31 at the school's Washington Campus, 1011 Washington St.

» Click to enlarge image
Waukegan Police Chief Art Yancey, left, reads a letter honoring Craig DeLost, center, as Principal Steve Hamlin looks on.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)

BASEBALL FUND-RAISER The community can show its appreciation for Coach Craig DeLost's bravery by participating in an upcoming Waukegan High School baseball fund-raiser, said Principal Steve Hamlin.

The Turkey Raffle will be held Nov. 21 at Booner's Place, 1210 Washington St., Waukegan.

For more information, contact DeLost at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:cdelost@wps.org">cdelost@wps.org</a><!-- e --> or Athletic Director David Perkins at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:dperkins@wps60.org">dperkins@wps60.org</a><!-- e --> .
It was about 1:30 p.m. when a student told DeLost that he saw another student with a gun. DeLost found several students huddled in the boys locker room looking at something, according to the commendation.

He heard what sounded like a gun being cocked and asked the boys what they were doing. One boy hid something behind his back, then fled. DeLost called for assistance and took up the chase, down a hall and outside through a neighborhood, finally grabbing the student and taking the firearm, which was not loaded.

"That was a brave thing you did," Waukegan Police Chief Artis Yancey told DeLost. "You went above and beyond your obligation to protect our students and community. You're the kind of teacher I would want my kids to have."

Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian also thanked DeLost.

"Most people, when they see a gun, the usual reaction is to run the other way," Sabonjian said. "It took a good, calm, cool individual to do what you did."

DeLost was also presented with a Waukegan Police Department mug, engraved with the motto "To serve and protect," a replica police badge and whistle. Sgt. Brian Mullen remarked that he had viewed a security videotape and was impressed with DeLost's speed.

"This is awesome," DeLost said, then joked, "I was worried for two class periods, what's going on, I'm meeting the principal."

Waukegan High Principal Steve Hamlin said school personnel had been pushing for a celebration of the coach's heroism. Suggestions included an assembly and a drumline.

"As exciting as his action was, he really just likes to fly under the radar," Hamlin said.

Three 15-year-old boys and one 14-year-old boy, all Waukegan High students, have been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony.

Hamlin said it was believed the incident represented "a poor choice of show-and-tell rather than a threat." While no formal action has been taken by the school board, Hamlin said the "Safe and Drug Free School Act allows removal for up to two years" for such an offense.

DeLost and his family, including wife Amy, a 1994 graduate of Waukegan High, have been invited to the Waukegan City Council meeting Monday for presentation of an official city proclamation.