BRIGHTON PARK — Faculty members at Brighton Park Elementary School on Monday disbanded a parent patrol group, saying the measure would boost student safety in the wake of the tragic school shootings in Connecticut.
"They kicked us all out," said Cheryl Piernilowski, 30 and a mother of two Brighton Park elementary school students.
The parent patrol is a 10-person volunteer team that keeps watch at the school's doors as students enter and exit. On Monday morning, the group was surprised to learn of a new procedure — they were told to abandon their posts outside the school, 3835 S. Washtenaw Ave.
Starting today, the school is testing a new measure that forbids anyone other than school staff to be near the doors inside the school grounds at the beginning and end of the day, they said.
A few of the parents who were huddled in the school parking lot weren't upset about the change and said they understood the need to test new security measures in the city's schools.
"It's OK. All the kids need to be safe," Piernilowski said.
Leaders at Chicago Public Schools have sent out reminders of safety procedures to all schools, including reviews of emergency management plans and building security.
Officials at the school did not immediately return a call requesting comment.
