CAUSE ADVISORY
D.O. & CANALINO Elementary Intruder Event
Exposes SAFETY Concerns
Is it time to return to previously effective SAFETY practices?
============================================
Dear CUSD Community,
In light of recent events involving intruders on CUSD District Office and CANALINO ELEMENTARY School Sites (April 13, 2023), Union Leadership is compelled to ask the question: Is it time to return to previously effective SAFETY practices?
Union Leadership and District parents, working together, wish to remind District Leadership of past practices that once served to reinforce the CUSD’s overall SAFETY posture. These initiatives were informed by and implemented by robust SCHOOL-SITE SAFETY COMMITTEES across the District, which all coordinated with a thoroughly engaged CUSD SAFETY COMMITTEE working with external agency partners, including representatives from:
* City and State Law Enforcement
* Local Fire & Rescue
* the City of Carpinteria
* SB County “Ready – Set – Prepare”
* FEMA
* HOPE.Net, & related Mental Health organizations
Currently, if these SCHOOL-SITE & DISTRICT SAFETY COMMITTEES still exist, they are entirely unrecognizable. Under Superintendent Rigby’s guidance, these committees, their impact on SAFETY, and their transparency have been greatly reduced. Union Leadership takes no pleasure in sharing that the result of these reductions has left the District’s and School-Site’s SAFETY responses comparably jeopardized; as seen when examining recent responses to SAFETY matters across the District.
Therefore, Union Leadership will share and remind District leadership and the CUSD Community of several value added and comparatively inexpensive SAFETY initiatives, which existed upon the arrival of the Superintendent just a few years ago:
1.) Standardized School-Site / Facility Visitor Registration Processes
2.) District-Wide Security Badging: for District Personnel, Routine Visitors (i.e. Substitute Teachers, Parent Helpers, Mentors, Contractors, etc.) & Guest Visitors
3.) Single Access Points @ School-Site / Facility: during Instructional & After School Program Hours
* Including maps and charts of ALL ACCESS points, confirming their expected status throughout each School-Site’s/Facility’s daily schedules (i.e Regular Day, Early Release Day, Minimum Day, et.) [previously excluding CHS]
4.) District-Wide CPR & First Aid Training: w/ annual Certification offered to all interested District employee and parent
* The Union would be open to contractualized expectations related to CPR/First Aid Training
5.) Monthly Inventory of School-Site EMERGENCY Communication Systems:
* Office/Classroom Phones, emergency call buttons (GEN 7), Bell tones, fire alarms, etc.
* consider purchase of system/s such as CRISIS-GO
7.) SCHOOL-SITE/FACILITY SAFETY COMMITTEES: Return to robust and inclusive posture
* to include parents, site-administrators, counselors, student representative/s, site faculty & support staff, school-site union representatives,
* meeting at least monthly; sharing and receiving information (in the form of formal minutes, recommendations, concerns, etc.) directly w/ the CUSD SAFETY COMMITTEE
* w/ stipends paid to faculty & support staff serving in committee positions
8.) DISTRICT SAFETY COMMITTEE: Return to robust and inclusive posture
* to include CUSD Superintendent, CUSD HR Director, School Site-Principal, CUSD Department Directors / Supervisors , elected Union representatives, HS student representative, Mental Health specialist, External Agency Partners (ex. Law, Fire & Rescue, Carpinteria Planning, SB County Ready, Set, Prepare, etc.), & Parent Leaders/PTA Presidents
* meeting at least monthly; sharing & receiving information (in the form of formal minutes, recommendations, concerns, etc.) directly w/ the SCHOOL SITE SAFETY COMMITTEES & the CUSD SCHOOL BOARD
* w/ stipends paid to faculty & support staff serving in committee positions
9.) HOUR-ZERO Training and Protocols: Re-invigoration of training & implementation protocols
10.) EMERGENCY / MEDICAL SHEDS (per School-Site): Stocked with routine medical supplies in the event of emergency
11.) MONTHLY STATUS CHECKS EMERGENCY Supplies: Emergency buckets, fire extinguishers, evacuation / first aid bags, walkie-talkies, etc.
Working with parents and the School Board, we are confident these initiatives could be re-implemented to greater effect, to ensure the SAFETY of our students, colleagues, employees, and CUSD families. Those interested in advocating and working towards these improvements may contact Union Leadership Directly at: cause.cusd@gmail.com
Our Leadership team looks forward to working with all interested parents, employees, community members &/or partners committed to improving the SAFETY conditions for our students and staff.
Towards improvement!
~ j. Hotchner * CAUSE President
,
============================================