The Board of Education for Flossmoor School District 161 approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Flossmoor Police Department during its May 11 meeting formalizing how the two agencies will share information related to student safety, criminal activity and emergency response.

According to the district’s action report, the agreement updates an older reciprocal reporting document to reflect current state laws and reporting requirements. 

The agreement outlines what types of information can be shared between the district and police department, situations that require reporting, which officials are responsible for communication, and procedures for police access to school security camera feeds during emergencies. 

District officials said the agreement aligns with all five areas of the district’s strategic plan, including student achievement, learning environment, professional environment, family and community partnerships, and resource equity. 

The agreement states that the district and police department will cooperate in reporting certain criminal offenses committed by students and instances of truancy while following state and federal confidentiality laws governing student and juvenile records. 

Under the agreement, school administrators are required to promptly report incidents involving firearms, drugs, forcible felonies and attacks on school personnel to police. The police department, in turn, may share certain law enforcement information with designated school officials if there is an imminent threat to students, staff or community safety. 

The agreement also includes provisions allowing police tactical teams and dispatchers temporary access to live district security camera feeds during health or safety emergencies. District and police technology staff will be required to coordinate annual training and test the remote access system at least twice each school year. 

District administrators noted there are currently no anticipated costs associated with the agreement.