Lake Bluff’s Parent Safety Committee Helps Keep Students Safe

When a few Lake Bluff parents reached out to say they wanted to be involved in school safety, Director of Safety and Security Austin Johnson didn’t just say yes. He invited every parent in the district to join them.

That interest became District 65’s Parent Safety Committee. After those first parents reached out, Johnson shared an interest survey asking families who would like to serve. Today, more than a dozen parents with students in nearly every grade, kindergarten through eighth, are part of the group, and it’s still growing. This fall, the parent of a new kindergartner came in to talk with Johnson about safety, learned about the committee and asked to join.

The committee meets with Johnson four times a year. Before each meeting, members gather on their own, to talk through questions and bring agenda items to the table. Johnson comes ready, too, with updates on the district’s safety work.

That partnership has already turned ideas into action. Committee members pushed to have Stop the Bleed kits and safety backpacks in place before the 2026-27 school year started, and even offered to raise the money to pay for them. The district covered the cost in its budget, so the kits and backpacks were ready for the first day of school.

“Student and school safety is paramount these days, and this committee really helps bridge the gap between administration and parents,” said Michael Kopsick, a parent and committee member. “We have been very lucky to partner with the administration, who encourages the parents to have a voice in how we can best keep our children as safe as possible when they are in school.”

Johnson says one of the committee’s most important roles is helping families understand the many layers of safety already in place in our schools. Members learn firsthand how the district prepares, from building safety features to ongoing staff training, and share what they learn with friends and neighbors.

That preparation continues throughout the year. On Oct. 14 and Oct. 28, District 65 staff completed option-based safety training with the Lake Bluff Police Department.

The Parent Safety Committee is open to any parent who wants to be part of the conversation. "Anyone who is interested is welcome to join," Johnson said.

Upcoming meetings for the 2026-27 school year:

Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026

Thursday, Feb. 18, 2027

Thursday, April 22, 2027

Interested in getting involved? Contact Austin Johnson at ajohnson@lb65.org. You can also learn more about the district’s safety work in the District 65 Safety Guide.