NCJ Number
199318
Journal
Campus Safety Journal Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2003 Pages: 10,12
Date Published
March 2003
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the content of a school security report developed for the Grossmont Union High School District of San Diego County (California) following shootings at two of the district's high schools in March 2001.
Abstract
The report was developed by the Lessons Commission, which consisted of representatives of law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, civic organizations, and the educational system. The commission was charged with developing a set of recommendations regarding school safety and student support. The report is divided into six sections: Safety Measures, Safe Facilities, Well-Coordinated Crisis Response, Adult Participation on Campus, Delivering Additional Services, and Assessment and Evaluation. Each section contains recommendations. This article reports on the status of the implementation of these recommendations. Regarding safety measures, the district has employed school resource officers and conducted security site surveys. Further, an anonymous tip line has been established to allow students to share information about rumors or threats without identifying themselves. Recommended upgrades in the school facilities have not yet been funded, but public address and classroom communications systems have been repaired and are operational. Regarding recommendations pertinent to a well-coordinated crisis response, crisis response training, lock-down drills, and a comprehensive review of all crisis response instructions are now annual activities on each campus in the district. Recommendations for adult participation on campus are aimed at providing more one-on-one time between students and adults. Plans are underway for the development of mentoring programs and on-campus advisory programs. Regarding the delivery of additional services, several schools have opened resource centers on campus that house social workers and representatives from other organizations, so as to augment the efforts of the overworked school counseling departments and offer services to parents and community members as well as students. The district continues to evaluate all aspects of the implementation of the report's recommendations. The full report of the Lessons Commission can be found on the Grossmont Union High School District home page (www.guhsd.net).