While it can be extremely difficult to imagine a tragedy occurring at one of our Chico Unified schools, it is the job of the School Board to oversee the safety of our campuses at all levels, from TK programs and alternative environments all the way up to our high schools. In the modern era, threats to the safety of students and staff can take many forms, and everything from overt incursions onto campuses to cyber-based breaches, data theft and extortion are unfortunate but real possibilities. My goal as a Trustee has always been and will continue to be vigilance in “hardening” our learning environments where students and staff are with ample security, and refining our protocols for dealing with a security disaster should one occur.
I support the use of school resource officers (SROs) on Chico Unified campuses, to help ensure the safety of our students and staff. These are sworn law enforcement officers responsible for safety and crime prevention in schools. I feel it is insufficient to simply hope or trust that a mentally ill or malicious individual won't threaten the safety of our 23 campuses, and we must take the extra step of partnering with law enforcement professionals to guard against the unthinkable.
Currently, our SROs spend time educating students about the dangers of tobacco products and drugs, and often function as counselors. They also create a good opportunity for Chico’s law enforcement community to build relationships with students and their families, which contributes to better policing city-wide.
There is no “one size fits all” approach, in my opinion, to how much time these officers need spend on each campus. Chico Unified currently has four resource officers district-wide, three of whom limit their activities to our junior highs and high schools. There is currently not much of a presence at our elementary schools. While it may not be practical -- or even valuable -- to have a resource officer present at each school whenever doors are open, it is probably time for CUSD to consider adding SROs to our campus security portfolio. There should be a consistent safety presence that is sufficient to deter an incident or immediately intercede in the event of one.
This past year I have also advocated for more practical management of security fencing around our campuses -- starting this Fall, there will be mechanisms in place at each school to allow campus visitors to reach or communicate with the school office without using a mobile phone. This has been an inconvenience for some parents and I'm glad to have helped create this work-around.
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