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Our Community, Our News
FEBRUARY 13, 2013
Responding to tragedy Following Sandy Hook, District 58 hosts forum to review security measures, address parents concerns
Tully gives state of village address By Jonathan Samples Staff Reporter
By Jonathan Samples Staff Reporter
When former District 58 teacher Richard Samonte took the podium during Wednesday night’s school safety and security meeting, he asked parents and school administrators a sobering question. “I wonder how many of us would have been in attendance for this if Newtown hadn’t taken place?” Samonte, who retired from teaching after 38 years, offered his comments after District 58 officials and Downers Grove police and fire personnel reviewed the current security measures in place for grade schools in the community. An overview Samonte was happy to see, but one he wished would have happened regardless of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. “I commend you for making this presentation tonight, but this is a presentation that probably should have been done in September,” he said. “The question that I have is, ‘are we creatively planning for the abnormal?’” District 58 Superintendent Kari Cremascoli
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when they are in a situation that is unknown,” she said.“That is something that we’re taking a close look at.” Cremascoli also outlined a number of steps District 58 has taken since the Sandy Hook tragedy — including locking the exterior doors of all schools — and is planning to take in the future. “Following Sandy Hook, we heard a lot
Downers Grove Mayor Martin Tully highlighted a long list of village achievements in the areas of stewardship and sustainability, infrastructure investment and municipal services during his 2013 State of the Village Address. The report, which was given at the Feb. 5 Village Board meeting, focused less on upcoming projects in 2013. Instead, Tully used the time to praise the accomplishments of the past year. “It’s tough to distill down a whole year to a mere 30 minutes,” Tully said. “But in sum, the state of our village is this: strong and resourceful. With the great recession not too distant in our rearview mirror, we are proud to be on strong financial footing, but we are mindful of the challenges that lay ahead.”
See SCHOOL SAFETY, page 3
See SOTV, page 4
Jonathan Samples/Bugle Staff
Superintendent Kari Cremascoli (right) leads a community forum with village police and fire personnel concerning safety and security at District 58 schools, following the Dec. 14 shooting tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., where 20 students and six adults were killed by a gunman.
addressed Samonte’s concern, saying that a number of current safety procedures are geared towards this type of preparation. Cremascoli said the district is considering additional staff and police department training, above and beyond state and federal requirements, geared towards handling unpredictable situations. “In short, it does do exactly what you’re describing, which is train our staff and personnel to think differently and creatively