School Safety Takes Center Stage at Conference Hosted by West40
West40 held the 21st Annual Illinois School Safety Conference and welcomed approximately 850 school personnel, law enforcement officers, and public safety professionals on October 7 at the event's new location, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. West40 hosts the free annual event alongside partners from across Illinois, bringing together experts and professionals to share strategies and resources for keeping schools safe.
This year's conference featured keynote presentations covering school shooting survival, preventing violence through relationships, cybersecurity, emergency preparedness, and other school safety challenges. Among the featured speakers was Rob Young, a survivor of the 1989 Cleveland Elementary School shooting who later became a police officer and helped stop an active shooter in 2013.
Attendees also had opportunities to connect with 52 vendors showcasing the latest school safety technology and resources.
"I've always walked out of this conference with some new skill, understanding of a strategy, something I should be implementing, something I should revisit, something we should revise,” said Summit School District 104 Superintendent Dr. David Negron.
Thank you to the Village of Rosemont for helping secure the new venue and serving as a conference sponsor.
