The District 200 school board voted unanimously to approve hiring six more security guards after dozens of teachers attended a March 9 board meeting wearing red “solidarity” shirts to support the measure.

Principal Lynda Parker and the Campus Safety Division made the request for more security following an uptick in fight frequency and severity.

A group of about 50 teachers in red shirts attended the meeting at 7:30 that night, filling all the seats so that several had to stand to the side and sit on the floor.

Parker’s original request on Feb. 23 included hiring 14 new security guards as soon as spring break, with each making $48,400 inclusive of benefits, totalling an annual cost of $677,600 to the district.

When initially proposed, the board questioned whether hiring 14 security guards was necessary, suggested technology-based alternative solutions, cited equity concerns and ultimately concluded that the motion would not be “cost-neutral” enough for the budget.

On March 9, Parker presented the board with an altered proposal, now requesting six security guards, totalling an estimated $288,000 annually.

On her interactive map of each floor of the building, Parker indicated which specific areas were lacking supervision, and had a solution for each spot.

Parker also pointed out that right now, when students leave doors other than the main entrance, triggering the alarm, the school is dependent on a security guard being nearby to spot them and identify them, or to view security camera footage later and retroactively identify them. Parker’s updated proposal asked for one of the new six positions to be a dedicated live camera-feed viewer, who can keep track of who leaves without permission.

Another major gap Parker plans to supplement with new hires is the fourth floor, which, as of right now, only has one security guard manning the entire space.

Parker also proposed moving two night shift guards to day shifts, which would cover more needed ground day-to-day while still being cost neutral.

A regularly scheduled public comment section preceded the request, where several teachers, long-time and new, each had three minutes to speak.

History teacher Toni Biasiello, who has worked at OPRF since 2004, expressed her worry and disappointment for the current state of safety at school. “Students can’t learn if they don’t feel safe,” she said. “Our security staff helps them feel safe…they show tremendous professionalism.”

She added, “This year, it feels like there have been unprecedented safety concerns…so many adults, security and teachers alike, have been hurt doing their jobs. Most adults are lucky enough to get to go to work and not be hurt…it’s an upsetting situation.”

Third-year history teacher Wilson Caraballo explained his experience as a newer teacher.

“When I graduated from college I knew what Oak Park River Forest was, it was this mythical thing, this school that’s a dream to [work at]. As every year has gone by, that has slowly chipped away…I consistently get texts, phone calls, direct messages, from friends and family when an event happens, and it’s quite embarrassing that I have to try to explain why our school is getting this way…our principal and our security staff have tried their hardest to make this a building of warmth and community, but they are stretched thin.”

In addition to the teachers, a news camera from CBS2 news was also present.

The vote to approve the new positions came after a discussion between Parker and the board about how to address the root causes of school fighting and misbehavior. The board also requested measures to offset the cost of the new hires.

At the March 23 regular board meeting, the agenda noted “staff attrition”–the departure of staff due to resignation, retirement and other reasons–will allow the district to save money. The increase in cost for all staffing next year, including teachers, custodians and the new security guards, is an estimated $51,000. An educational technology audit may find other ways offset that cost, the agenda noted.