Every afternoon after the dismissal bell at District 204's three high schools, no single person has been responsible for building security. That changes now.

The Indian Prairie School District 204 board voted unanimously Wednesday, Aug. 12, to create a "school safety and security lead" at Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley high schools, according to NCTV17. The vote came five days before students return Aug. 17 for the first day of school.

Superintendent John Price identified the gap in a memo to the board, writing that the district had no dedicated person assigned to maintain safety and security procedures after the normal dismissal bell. That absence, he wrote, "presents a gap in our safety preparedness and puts a heavy burden on our high school administrative teams."

The three new staffers will monitor building entrances and exits, serve as the point of contact for coaches and after-school program directors, report incidents to the district's safety team and communicate directly with police and emergency responders. They are the dedicated security presence from dismissal through the end of evening activities at each campus.

Board member Susan Demming called the positions "very much needed to ensure that our high school buildings have coverage after school hours. I think it will keep all that are in the buildings safe. It's a reassurance."

What it costs

Hiring the three leads is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000 per year combined. Price's memo noted the expense could become "cost-neutral" by the 2027-28 school year, when Neuqua Valley's freshmen move out of the Birkett Center and back to the main campus, freeing the facility for rental income.

The decision is separate from the district's $125 million Safer, Stronger 204 construction program, which has funded secure vestibules, turf fields and cafeteria renovations. As we reported July 30, much of that physical work will greet students on the first day. Wednesday's vote adds personnel to the equation.

New superintendent's early priority

Price took over as superintendent July 1 after leading North Chicago District 187 since 2017. According to the Chicago Tribune, he listed a strong understanding of safety and security among his top goals upon joining the district. The after-school staffing vote, coming just six weeks into his tenure, is the first concrete policy action on that pledge.

Administrators also evaluated whether the district's STEPS building needed a similar position but determined existing staff could cover security concerns there.

The district has not announced when the new leads will start or whether they will be in place by the Aug. 17 first day. Meeting agendas and district updates are posted at ipsd.org.