McLean County, IL-- Demonstrating a proactive commitment to school safety, LeRoy School District 2 (CUSD #2) is the first in McLean County to collaborate with the Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) to produce enhanced, data-rich school maps. The initiative aims to reduce emergency response times by equipping first responders with detailed situational intelligence prior to arrival.
Through grant funding provided by Illinois State Police, Office of the Statewide 911 Administrator, ETSB is calling on ALL public and private schools in McLean County with grades K-12 to begin collaborating to create digital indoor tactical maps of each school building using GIS (Geographic Information System) data at zero cost to the school district. Unlike standard building layouts, these maps include critical, real-time data points such as:
Room numbers, entry/exit doors, site and roof access points
Camera locations and blind spots
Fire alarm panels, AEDs, first aid kits, and gas shutoff valves
Stairwells, lockdown zones, and safe rooms
Keyed access points and fencing layouts
Color-coded zones for fast orientation
“Every second counts in an emergency, and there is no such thing as a small crisis when someone’s health or safety is involved,” said Jeff Baughman, LeRoy CUSD #2 Superintendent. “With these maps, our county emergency responders can plan their entry and locate people faster. It’s a game-changer, and LeRoy School District 2 is proud to lead the way for all McLean County schools offering K through 12th grade.”
These maps are not made public. They are made accessible through secure platforms to 911 dispatchers, EMS, Police, Fire, and other first responders. Mobile units can view them enroute to the scene, giving them spatial awareness and the tactical edge necessary for the best possible outcome.
Unlike paper or PDF maps, which become outdated the moment a school modifies classrooms and are difficult to share among multiple agencies, these detailed GIS maps are easier to update and securely share. The maps can even give first responders a more precise location of a 911 call originating from inside a school.
“This project is about preparation, precision, and partnership,” said Rhonda Flegel, Executive Director, Mclean County ETSB/MetCom. “Seconds save lives, and these digital maps eliminate guesswork, giving 9-1-1 telecommunicators and first responders the critical spatial awareness they need before they even arrive on scene to protect students and staff in any emergency.”
Because creating these maps requires resources and coordination, LeRoy CUSD #2 and ETSB are hosting a joint press conference to openly discuss what school officials at each K-12 school in McLean County need to begin the process, and the best methods to provide a speedy turnaround time to get their school map(s) in the hands of first responders.
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Time: Noon
Location: LeRoy Performing Arts Center (located at LeRoy Elementary, 805 N. Barnett Street, LeRoy, IL, 61752).
Note: Parking is available in the front parking lot. There will be a large entrance sign at Performing Arts Center doors. You will not need to sign-in as long as you enter through these doors.
McLean County K-12 school officials are encouraged to immediately contact ETSB for more information on the process:
Brandon Lacey, McLean County 911 System Manager
Office: (309) 663-9953