ETHS Safety Director: Safety is our Top Priority

Shortly after two Evanston Township High School students were arrested for violently , ETHS Director of Safety Sam Pettineo sent a message to parents and guardians to say that such acts of violence in the school are rare.

"The recent theft with force was rapidly investigated; we involved the police, followed due process, and in less than 24 hours the perpetrators were suspended from school and arrested," Pettineo wrote.

The letter outlined some of the things the school does to ensure safety, and encouraged communication among parents, students, and the school.

Here is the full text of the letter:

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Each school day, the halls of Evanston Township High School are filled with more than 3,000 students, ready to take on the academic endeavors that have sustained our Wildkit pride for more than 128 years. Although ETHS is an inherently safe place, we face the same challenges as other schools across the country, and incidents of crime can and do occur on our 65-acre campus.

The ETHS Safety Department is committed to providing a safe and secure learning community for every student, staff member, and visitor to ETHS.  In today’s world, we all must be concerned about safety.  Let me assure you that safety is our top priority, and we continue to look at ways to enhance our crime prevention strategies and safety services to ensure our students have a positive high school experience.

Recently, we had two students forcibly take cell phones from two other students.  We consider this to be a very serious crime.  Individual acts of violence such as theft with force are rare at ETHS. We take great care to ensure that all cases that are reported to us are handled in the most appropriate manner based on the information provided.  The recent theft with force was rapidly investigated; we involved the police, followed due process, and in less than 24 hours the perpetrators were suspended from school and arrested.

In the months ahead, we will provide ETHS families with increased communication on safety topics and crime prevention tips. Here are some of the safety resources currently in place at ETHS:

Entry and exit from our school is restricted during school hours. During school hours (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.), parents and others visiting our school must enter through Door #1 (front entrance) or Door #31 (rear entrance) and stop at Safety to receive a temporary ID badge before proceeding. A valid photo ID is required. Visitors should have an appointment scheduled with an ETHS staff member. As a safety precaution, all other exterior doors are secured until school is dismissed.

Camera surveillance. A video monitoring system is in use in public areas around our 1.2 million square foot school building. This system is in place to protect students, staff, visitors and school property. If a reported incident is captured on tape, these recordings may be used as the basis for investigating the incident. Due to privacy laws, cameras may not be used in certain spaces, such as locker rooms and bathrooms.

High-security locks for P.E. lockers. High-security locks are provided to students for use in the physical education wing. Students need to understand their responsibility in protecting personal property at school. Gym lockers and swim lockers should always be locked. Reported incidents of theft often occur in school locker rooms when students’ personal property is not properly secured by students. Students are advised not to bring valuables to the gym lockers.

Property tracking system. Students are encouraged to register their personal property with serial numbers (electronic devices and bicycles) in ETHS Home Applications (https://homeapplication.eths.k12.il.us/Login/).

AlertNow - Emergency Notification System. An automated telephone, e-mail and SMS notification system is used when a situation exists that presents an imminent danger to the campus, and to notify parents and students. Safety Hotline 1-888-214-4445. The Safety Hotline is available to all students, staff, parents and community members who are aware of drugs, violence, misconduct, sexual harassment, weapons, or any other safety issue that may impact the daily life of students. The hotline is open to receive safety tip messages 24 hrs. a day, seven days a week. All calls are anonymous.

COMING SOON! – Text Tip Hotline for students and staff. ETHS Students and staff will soon be able to text ETHS Safety to report incidents or receive assistance on campus during school hours. Watch for detailed information.

Community-based safety philosophy. We work closely with ETHS administration, the Deans’ office, the Evanston Police Department, Positive Presence, and other community groups and organizations to ensure that the needs of both victims and student offenders are met.

The safety and well-being of our students, staff and visitors is our highest priority and my primary concern. The security of our school is a joint effort that involves us all. I ask all members of the ETHS school community to make responsible choices, discourage careless behavior, and to promptly report any suspicious activity to the Safety Department Office [H-102]. By working together, exercising good judgment and using basic crime prevention safety measures, we can all be assured of the safest possible experience.

Please contact me at pettineos@eths.k12.il.us with any individual concerns, or any ideas you may have to support the continuous advancement of our safe learning community.

Sam Pettineo
Director of Safety