As technology continues to advance, schools must adapt accordingly, and Oak Lawn Community High School (OLCHS) is doing just that. To meet the challenges of today’s rapidly changing environment, OLCHS has introduced two new safety measures: medical and police pull stations.
These stations are designed for specific emergencies. A medical pull station can be activated if someone experiences a health crisis beyond what the on-campus nurses can handle. The police pull station, on the other hand, is intended for situations where a threat emerges on campus. When activated, it triggers a building-wide alarm to alert everyone of potential danger.
While many welcome the added precautions, some students have expressed concerns about possible misuse. Senior Ariana Leato shared, “There are kids who will recklessly pull them no matter what, so this may cause misuse of police and ambulance time.” School officials have made clear that anyone who activates the stations as a prank or with malicious intent will face disciplinary consequences.
On September 11, OLCHS hosted an informational assembly to introduce the new safety systems. The event included the Superintendent of Education, members of the Board of Education, and parents from across the district. Principal Dr. Lauren May emphasized the importance of preparedness, stating, “We want everyone to feel prepared in case of an emergency on campus.”
The stations are part of the Bluepoint system, a broader initiative to strengthen school safety. Some parents and students questioned whether their presence indicates that the campus is unsafe. Administrators explained that the opposite is true: the stations are designed to enhance safety and ensure rapid response, not to suggest an increase in threats.
Assistant Principal Mr. Marcus Wargin expressed the administration’s hope that the stations never need to be used but underscored their value: “To have the stations will improve response time if we ever need them.”
Ultimately, the goal of these new measures is clear, to ensure that in any emergency, students and staff have the tools they need to remain safe.
