Students at all six Wilmette District 39 schools will follow a new set of emergency commands during safety drills for the 2026-27 school year.

The district adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a framework that assigns a one-word command to each emergency scenario. According to the district's Aug. 28 update, the five actions are: Hold (stay in your classroom, clear the halls), Secure (get inside, lock outside doors), Lockdown (locks, lights, out of sight), Evacuate (move to a new location) and Shelter (take protective action based on the situation).

The shared vocabulary applies to students, staff and families at Central, Harper, McKenzie and Romona elementary schools, Highcrest Middle School and Wilmette Junior High School. District 39 introduced the framework at a Zoom parent education session on Aug. 26. A recording is available on YouTube.

Lockdown drills with Wilmette Police

All six schools will conduct safety drills during the 2026-27 school year, including a lockdown drill run in partnership with the Wilmette Police Department. The district said the drill will not include simulations or gunfire. Every person in the building at the time, including visitors, will participate.

Parents who want to opt their child out can submit written notification at least 24 hours before the drill begins, under the Illinois School Safety Drill Act (Public Act 102-0395). School administrators may also exempt students at their discretion.

Students who do not participate still receive instruction on lockdown procedures, and all students may ask questions during exercises. Drill dates have not been announced; principals will share them in school newsletters.

Transportation waitlist: key dates

Michelle McGregor, District 39's transportation liaison, is working through the bus waitlist in the order requests were received. Families offered a spot must pay by Thursday, Sept. 3. Bus passes will be available for pickup at each child's school office on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and riders can board starting Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Late activity buses for Highcrest and WJHS

District 39 is also running late activity buses for students in after-school sports and clubs at Highcrest and Wilmette Junior High. Buses leave WJHS at 4:45 p.m. and stop at Highcrest before heading to drop-off points at Central, McKenzie, Harper, and Romona elementary schools and the Community Recreation Center. Students do not need to be enrolled in district transportation to ride, but the buses are for independent riders only because no staff will be present at drop-off locations.

Board meeting recap

The District 39 Board of Education met Monday, Aug. 24, and received the district's response to the 2026 Community Review Committee report on educator well-being. The board also heard the annual enrollment report, conducted its tax compliance review and performed a first reading of several board policies. Board agendas and materials are posted at wilmette39.org the Friday before each meeting.