School Safety and Mental Health

Promoting campus safety and student mental health requires a balanced approach that supports both physical security and emotional well-being. Schools must be proactive, responsive, and all of this must be framed and rooted in community trust.

1- Clear Policies and Reporting Systems. Effective safety starts with clear, accessible policies and anonymous reporting tools. Promotion and education around the Stop-It app needs to be expanded. Students, staff, and families must know how to report concerns and trust the process.

2- Campus Accountability. While the district sets policy, each campus must uphold and enforce these expectations consistently. Regular check-ins, campus administration engagement, and sharing of successes between campuses will help maintain accountability and help promoting successful implementation and actions taken.

3- Improved Access to Health Services. Expanding on-campus mental and physical health services by increasing staff and partnerships will ensure students receive timely and stigma-free support. Communication and PR is critical to improving access here as well, making sure that parents know there are resources for them as well.

4- SEL and Preventative Education. Incorporating social-emotional learning and life skills into the curriculum helps students build resilience, manage emotions, and engage in healthier peer relationships. This is done well in the elementary schools, but needs improvement and expansion at the middle and high school level. 

5- Strengthen Campus Access and Surveillance. Secure entry points and surveillance systems are essential. Though the 2024 bonds failed, these upgrades remain a critical safety need and should be revisited.

6- Parent Education and Engagement. Parents play a vital role in school safety. Offering education on bullying, digital safety, and warning signs helps build stronger school-home partnerships. Parents also need to know they have resources available to them at the Parent Parent Sanctuary.