Our Children's Safety

There are three core elements to ensuring that students feel safe at school. These elements include the following:

 

• The District meeting the social and emotional needs of each student

• The collaborative partnership between the Police Department and the School District and their ability to assess, prevent and respond to the potential of danger

• The Parents feeling actively involved in the process that seeks to keep their children safe

 

I have been fortunate to witness how our District and specifically our Guidance Department has sought to meet the emotional needs of every student. Through the District investing in the staffing of the counseling departments and initiative set up by the District (Full Value Initiative, Parent Academies, Middle School Peer, CHS PRIDE) the District has sought to address the well being of every student and has acted to coordinate an effort that facilitates a community where the students feel that there is a place for them to feel valued in the school. This atmosphere provides a safe and nurturing environment for our children to learn and grow. In addition, the presence of a School Resource Officer adds to the feeling of safety in our schools. I have witnessed that these interactions have created an opportunity for a bond to develop between the officers and the students.  These officers provide the students with the knowledge that Detective “Nazarro” (now Lieutenant) cares about us and is keeping us safe!

 

It is of paramount importance that there is a collaborative partnership between the Police Department and the School District as the two identify their ability to assess, prevent and respond to the potential of danger. As such, the Police Department and the District have, and must continue to facilitate a coordinated effort in acquiring knowledge about the best practices of keeping schools safe.  In addition the two must continue to collaboratively strategize about how to implement these practices in our particular District. 

 

The Police Department has recently created a Community Advisory Board. Included on this committee is a member of the Board of Education and the PTC. The purpose of the committee is to discuss police initiatives, policies, and crime trends while welcoming community feedback, questions and discussions. Making the parents aware of what is being done to keep their children safe should provide an atmosphere for the parents to feel better about the safety of their children. If a parent feels comfortable about the choices the District is making for their children the children will most likely feel safer in school.