Unit 5 chief: School security a ‘national crisis’

Normal Community
In light of the latest school shootings in Dixon, Illinois and Santa Fe, Texas, Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel says school security must go beyond metal detectors and security guards. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel said the end to the school year this week can’t come soon enough in light of recent events of gun violence in schools.

First there were shots fired at Dixon High School last Wednesday, then the shooting in Santa Fe, Texas last Friday in which 10 people were killed.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Daniel on WJBC.

“The problems do not seem to cease so we need to confront them,” Daniel declared. “Perhaps we also need more counselors, perhaps we also need some more staff who can
intervene on behalf of these students that are struggling.”

Daniel told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin while school officials have worked with local police to improve security, he said there must be greater emphasis on prevention rather than reaction. He said things like metal detectors in schools cost money that schools don’t have.

He said the district is working with local police to improve security, but adding officers costs money.

“These are plans in regards to reaction, we need to be talking about prevention,” Daniel said. “It’s now at a national crisis level, so we need to start to seriously begin to think about how we are going to protest our students and our educators.”

McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage said that’s a sacrifice schools must be willing to make.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Sandage on WJBC.

“Do we want out children to be inconvenienced by security at the school or do we want them so be safe?, ” Sandage asked. “Because it’s at the point now where you can’t have both.”

Sandage added we all must report suspicious behavior when we see it, something that didn’t happen in Texas.

“I find it hard (to believe) there wasn’t some red flag somewhere,” Sandage said. “I think anymore a lot of people choose to ignore things and they don’t want to stick their nose in other people’s business and just care about themselves.”

The sheriff added new gun laws and new security can only do so much.

“That’s the tough thing, when you have somebody who’s willing to die to make their statement, they are awful hard to stop,” Sandage said.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…