The Laboratory Schools has hired a new director of safety and security. Michael McGehee began his new role on March 1. Mr. McGehee’s job includes working with community service officers, who secure entrances to the building as well as managing the Lab Safe app.
Mr. McGehee is a 2002 U-High alumnus. Before joining the Laboratory Schools, Mr. McGehee worked as a police officer with Chicago Police Department, where he also was assigned as a community resource officer in Chicago Public Schools. From 2008–2017, Mr. McGehee was directly employed as an engagement manager with the Chicago Public Schools, according to an announcement to the school community on Feb. 20.
Mr. McGehee said he is passionate about ensuring the building is safe not only during the school day, but for before- and afterschool programming. In the future, Mr. McGehee would like to fully staff the CSO team and continue to remind the community about best safety practices.
“I want to make sure we’re always keeping up with best practices around safety and security,” Mr. McGehee said. “It’s also important that we listen to our community and any feedback they might have to make sure that we’re providing the necessary resources to the Lab community.”
Mr. McGehee would like students to remember he always welcomes their feedback and concerns about campus security.
Mr. McGehee said, “One of the things I want to do is make sure the community knows I have an open door policy and that if they have any safety or security concerns, they can always reach out to me.”
