After Newtown, District 200 Safety Committee Looks to Improve School Security

Monthly safety committee meeting discussion addresses safety procedures in place at District 200 schools and potential improvements.

After the shooting that killed 20 children and six adults in Newtown, CT, Wheaton officials in the District 200 safety committee have opened a conversation on how to improve and tighten school security. District 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris said the safety committee's focus earlier this month was the Sandy Hook shooting and potential changes in district schools, including upgrades to buzzer systems, entry cameras and visitor procedures. Above all, though, he said, "Time is the main factor." "Anything to slow an intruder down is always a good thing," Harris said. "In those circumstances, time is the main factor—time for first responders to get there, or for the school to react in an emergency. He (Wheaton Police Chief Mark Field) …

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Local Artist Responds to Newtown Shooting, Sends Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Students

A local artist known for his snowflake designs sent a custom piece to remember the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

When artist Les Barker learned the Connecticut PTSA sent out an appeal for snowflakes to decorate the school building where Sandy Hook students will resume classes, after shooting that killed 20 children and six adults at their school in Newtown, CT, he created a custom snowflake design for the school to memorialize the victims. Barker works as a web designer at Wheaton College. He is also an artist who designs and cuts intricate six-sided paper snowflakes based on various themes—and often by commission—using using a method for folding the paper that he learned during the 18 years he lived in Japan. The design he sent to Connecticut incorporates the first initials of the 26 students and teachers who were killed, along with a remembrance …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Safer Schools, Not More Gun Control, Equals Better Schools

Wheaton attorney, Glen Ellyn resident challenges Naperville teacher's letter to the editor. He writes that safer schools, not better gun control, will result in better schools.

Wheaton Patch accepts and publishes letters to the editor emailed to Local Editor Charlotte Eriksen at Charlotte@patch.com, or sent as a message through the Wheaton Patch Facebook page. Please note in subject lines the message is a Letter to the Editor. ------------ In her Letter to the Editor entitled, "Gun Control Equals Better Schools" (Dec. 20, 2012), Ms. Sayeed has an understandable and admirable desire to both make sense of the horrific Sandy Hook tragedy and to suggest constructive solutions to ensure that it never happens again. Sadly, what Ms. Sayeed instead offers are failed policies, gauzy sentimentalism, and--especially for a Harvard doctoral candidate--a shocking lack of logic, fact-based knowledge, and critical thinking …

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Patch Participates in National Moment of Silence at 8:30 a.m. Friday

Your local Patch site will go dark during national observance for victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy.

Patch sites around America, including yours, will take part in a National Moment of Silence at 8:30 a.m. Central time on Friday. At that hour, the website will go blank for 5 minutes. The page will be replaced by a message noting the National Moment of Silence, and a link will direct viewers to a website that explains ways you can join the campaign to help the people of Sandy Hook. The Moment of Silence coincides with one across social media sites. Over 100,000 people have pledged not to tweet or post to Facebook, reports TechCrunch, including Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Britney Spears, Suze Orman, Tyler Florence, Goldie Hawn, and Joe Montana. After 5 minutes, the website operation will return to normal.  Looking for ways to help the …

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Worry and Fear Grips Schools and Parents in Wake of Newtown Shooting and Local Threats

Random and disturbing threats in the Chicago area followed the Newtown school killings, underscoring vulnerabilities and prompting discussions of gun control and guns for teachers.

The first day of school after the Sandy Hook school massacre brought a wave of fear, worry and outright threats to Chicago-area communities as educators and police sought to reassure people that efforts to protect their children would be redoubled. Parents and educators everywhere were talking about school security even as incidents locally in the last three days underscored potential vulnerability. Here's a glimpse of what's taken place in the past few days. In Wheaton, school officials have been vigilant in following the day-to-day safety protocols that might otherwise be forgotten. Police say they haven't done anything differently, but do encourage parents to find out what protocol is in their child's school.  In Downers Grove, parents …

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Why the Media Must Talk About Sandy Hook

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana

I was listening to National Public Radio Monday afternoon when they aired a story about Noah Pozner, the youngest victim in the Sandy Hook shooting. Noah was a twin and the story highlighted how he and his twin sister were inseparable and how he was an inquisitive and spirited child. At the end of the story, the reporter said the Noah's family chose to open the services to the public. They felt that would help the community and the family to heal. Additionally, Rabbi Shaul Praver, who officiated Monday's service, said Noah's mom wanted to share his story. They wanted people to know about him; they wanted people to remember him. "They wanted to scream it from the rooftops: 'My little boy, you know, he was a beautiful boy. And I want to tell…

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District 200: Newtown, CT Shooting a Reminder to 'Always be Mindful' of Student, Staff Safety

District 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris writes to parents and the community that safety protocols are reviewed regularly as safety is a top priority.

As students and teachers returned to school Monday after Friday's shooting that killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, CT, District 200 Superintendent Dr. Brian Harris sent a message to parents and community members on safety in the district. "As the details of the tragedy have unfolded, we reflect on the safety of our children. This tragedy is a reminder that we must always be mindful of student and staff safety and continually assess our procedures," he wrote. He wrote that safety protocols are in place at every school, and are reviewed monthly by a safety committee comprised of local law enforcement, fire officials, administrators and staff. Harris also wrote that school psychologists and counselors are …

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