Dupage Policy Journal

Kristina McCloy, Founder of Concerned Parents Illinois, a non-partisan organization that advocates for stronger families and academic excellence, said that children will now receive "the protection they deserve" with Hinsdale School District 181's expanded Safety Officer Pilot Program. McCloy shared her statement with the Dupage Policy Journal on April 24.

"Our children should receive the same protection that our politicians do, and the enhanced security efforts in District 181 to put more Safety Officers in our schools will provide exactly that," said Kristina Mccloy. 

"For far too long, elementary schools have been a target for bad people who want to cause harm, thanks to the enhanced efforts that District 181 will be implementing our children will be getting the protection they deserve. I am very grateful to have been a part of this effort to make our schools as safe as possible, this has been a long time coming and I am very appreciative of all of those who have worked to make this happen. 

Over the course of the past year I have met with numerous law enforcement officials, school board members, and administrators about the security level of the schools in our community, from there I learned that while Hinsdale High School District has significant security measures, Elementary School District 181 was not nearly as equipped, which is a major cause for concern for myself and many other parents in our community."

According to the District 181 Safety Update Board Report from April 15, the pilot program for Safety Officers in schools has been successful so far. However, the district is enhancing the program in elementary schools by "increasing our Safety Officer presence to three, with schedules strategically designed to maximize coverage."

 "If something was to happen, we’d have three internal people deployed to the site instantly in addition to the other first responders," Jeffery Alstadt, Communications Director for Hinsdale School District 181, told the Hinsdalean.

Alstadt went on to say that the roles of Safety Officers are "not like your traditional SRO (School Resource Officer). They do not handle student discipline. Yes, they interact with students, but it’s more of a focus on presence. They’re walking the grounds. They’re in the school. They check to make sure doors are locked and the school is secure."

In addition to founding Concerned Parents Illinois, McCloy is a trustee for Downers Grove Township. She currently resides in Hinsdale with her husband and two young children, according to Downers Grove official website.

The official website of Concerned Parents Illinois describes it as a non-partisan Political Action Committee (PAC) committed to advancing principles of strong families, vibrant communities, and outstanding education across Illinois. The organization’s mission is advocating for policies and leaders dedicated to fostering the well-being and success of families and children.