The new school year is back in session at Maine Township High School District 207, and officials say school buildings are more secure after multi-million dollar security upgrades were completed over the summer break.
“The planned safety enhancements (door alarms and cameras) are completed,” Brett Clark told Pioneer Press, confirming that upgrades were made at each of the district’s three high schools.
He said alarms and cameras were added to all of the exterior doors at Maine East, Maine South and Maine West.
Money to pay for the improvements was part of the school district’s fiscal year budget. The added security did not come as a result of any particular safety issue at any of the schools, according to Clark, but part of striving to keep school buildings safe.
“These enhancements are part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a secure campus environment and not allow unauthorized access to the building,” said Clark.
More than 6,100 students are enrolled in 9th through 12th grade across the district’s three high schools. The 2025-2026 academic year started Aug. 13 for freshmen and Aug. 14 for sophomores, juniors and seniors.
They entered their respective school buildings passing through entry doors with more security features added, and under the eyes of additional surveillance cameras. There are also new safety rules in place and plans to better enforce existing ones, according to a news release on the district website telling of the summer construction project.
Though it had not been allowed, students were known to open various exterior doors to let other students into the building or to exit during the school day for a myriad reasons. Officials considered that a “major safety concern,” according to the release.
But as of the start of this school year, “any opening of a secured exterior door will trigger an alarm, and the incident will be investigated. Every exterior door will also be monitored by security cameras so that school security and administration can identify who opened the door and take appropriate disciplinary action,” the release states.
Clark said safety is top of mind for the Park Ridge-based school district.
“The door alarms and cameras were put in place and will serve as one of many safety and security measures in place at the schools, he said. “We will continue to work to keep our students and staff as safe as possible.”