Orange County Grand Jury • 2017-2018 • Agency Response
Response to: Huntington Beach Union High School District

Huntington Beach Union Bonnie Castrey Duane Dishno High School District Susan Henry Kathleen Iverson Michael Simons*

Published: June 22, 2018 4 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F2
The implementation of security measures for schools, in many cases, is limited by funding. Response to F.2.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District agrees with this finding. The extent to which our school can implement the type and extent of security measures is often dependent on funding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
School districts should re-evaluate the lack of secure fencing on all school campuses and present a report to their respective boards by December 31, 2018, outlining their plans to make campuses more secure. (F.2, F.3) Response to R.2.: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented before 31 December, 2018. School districts should implement procedures to ensure that all campuses maintain a
F3
Many Orange County school campuses were constructed to reflect an "open and inviting" atmosphere but are now faced with physical and philosophical security issues that challenge this thinking. Response to F.3.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District agrees with this finding. Of the schools within our district, all can be considered to reflect an "open and inviting" atmosphere. While every Orange County school district reported the use of a campus visitor sign-in
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
complete, daily log (electronic or manual) of every visitor and volunteer entering and exiting the campus, excluding program events such as awards ceremonies or stage or musical productions. (F.4.) Response to R.3.: The current sign-in system is capable of creating badges, which every visitor must wear. The system is also capable of signing visitors out.
F4
process, there is a lack of procedural consistency among school campuses. Response to F.4.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District disagrees in part with this finding as it pertains to its schools. All sites in the Huntington Beach Union High School District follow a consistent visitor sign in at reception.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
School districts should implement procedures to ensure that photo identification is required of all campus visitors and volunteers before a visitor's badge is issued. (F.4, F.5.) Response to R.4.: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented during the 18-19 school year.
F5
Many districts or school campuses do not require all teachers, staff, and volunteers to wear ID badges while on campus, making identification of authorized personnel difficult for substitute teachers, student teachers, visitors, volunteers, and first responders. Response to F.5.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District partially disagrees with the finding. While many schools in our district do not require ID badges, we do not feel it is more difficult to identify authorized personnel while on campus.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
School districts should implement procedures to ensure that all faculty and staff are required to wear visible photo ID badges while on campus. (F.5.) Response to R.5.: The recommendation requires further analysis as it pertains to fiscal feasibility and a factual increase in workplace and campus safety. The analysis will be completed by the end of the 18-19 school year.
F6
Currently, student ID badges, which could easily distinguish students from non-students of similar age, are not required to be worn by Orange County middle and high school students. Response to F.6.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District partially disagrees with the finding. As it pertains to our schools, some of our campuses require student ID badges; however all students are required to carry an ID card while on campus. Campus personnel and volunteers, while on duty outside the classroom, have an
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
All school districts with middle or high school campuses should consider using student ID cards in a format to be worn as student ID badges while on campus. (F.6.) Response to R.6.: The recommendation requires further analysis as it pertains to fiscal feasibility and a factual increase in workplace and campus safety. The analysis will be completed by the end of the 18-19 school year.
F7
inconsistent usage or availability of communication devices for emergency situations. Response to F.7.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District disagrees with this finding. As it pertains to our schools, campus supervision and administrative personnel are all required to, and are furnished with two-way radios. We do not allow volunteers to supervise on our sites. There is no documentation or reporting protocol within the districts of individual security
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
School districts should evaluate available communication devices and ensure that custodial and supervisory personnel, as well as safety resource officers, playground supervisors We will educate, prepare, and inspire our students to change the world. and coaches, have two-way radios or equivalent communication devices with them at all times, enabling instant two-way communication with the office. (F.7.) Response to R.7.: The recommendation has been implemented. School site supervisory, custodial, and administrative staff all carry two-way radios.
F8
incidents, making it difficult to track, analyze, and summarize such incidents. Response to F.8.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District disagrees with this finding. As it pertains to our schools, individual security incidents which occur during the school day are reported to the principal's and/or assistant principal's office, the district office administration, and to the district safety office. Security incidents which occur during after school hours are reported to the principal, and to the district office through the district safety office.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
School districts should consider requiring that all campus incidents of unauthorized access be recorded, tracked, and reported to the district office on a quarterly basis. All districts should share these reports with the Orange County Department of Education. (F.8.) Response to R.8.: This recommendation has been implemented. Individual security incidents which occur during the school day are reported to the principal's and/or assistant principal's office, the district office administration, and to the district safety office. Security incidents which occur during after school hours are reported to the principal, and to the district office through the district safety office. HBUHSD will share the reports with the Orange County Department of Education when OCDE establishes a procedure for doing so.
F9
While every Orange County school develops a school safety plan, few schools have used an individual school security assessment to identify deficiencies or to develop the required plan. Response to F.9.: The Huntington Beach Union High School District agrees with this finding. As it pertains to our schools, we will conduct school security assessments at all our sites, to be completed by the end of the 18-19 school year. We will educate, prepare, and inspire our students to change the world. RECOMMENDATIONS
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
School districts should evaluate requiring each school to perform a school security assessment to evaluate their current school safety plan. (F.9) Response to R.9.: This recommendation has not yet been implemented; however the HBUHSD will conduct school security assessments at all our sites in the coming school year, to be completed by the end of the 18-19 school year. Sincerely, Dan Bryan, Director of Student Services, Huntington Beach Union High School District

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.