Safer Schools - What Can We Do?*

School safety and security are priorities in every school district in the Orange County public school system. Response: The Magnolia School District agrees with this finding. School safety and security are very high priorities in the Magnolia School District as with every school district in the Orange County public school system. As cited in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's guide to school safety assessments, the checklist cites controlling the access to buildings as the number one priority. Magnolia School District supports this assessment and has secured the perimeter of each of its nine school sites by installing durable metal fencing. In addition, each Magnolia School District site is equipped with a single point of entry during the instructional day. A visitor access policy is strictly adhered to at each campus. After being identified through the use of a camera and intercom system, visitors are buzzed into the front office lobby through a locked door. To obtain access beyond the office, all visitors must sign in, receive a badge, and are then allowed access onto the campus only if necessary.

The implementation of security measures for schools, in many cases, is limited by funding. Response: The Magnolia School District agrees with this finding. However, Magnolia School District has utilized existing funding sources to implement many high priority security measures, including security fencing around the perimeter of each of its nine school sites.

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: The Magnolia School District agrees with this finding. However, as a community, we value the safety of our students, parents, and staff members. Although all nine of our campuses are now closed to ensure the safety of all, curb appeal at all our school sites promote a welcoming environment as seen by our well maintained, clean, and aesthetically pleasing exterior perimeters. The Magnolia community is appreciative of the measures taken to secure the District's nine schools, while continuing to retain aesthetically pleasing environments.

While every Orange County school district reported the use of a campus visitor sign-in process, there is a lack of procedural consistency among school campuses. Response: Magnolia School District disagrees with this finding as it pertains to the Magnolia School District. The District maintains very consistent procedures amongst all nine school campuses. Visitors must be buzzed in through the locked front office door after being identified through the use of a camera and intercom system. When admitted, visitors must sign in, receive a badge, and enter the campus only as deemed necessary.

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. 2017-2018 Orange County Grand Jury Report Safer Schools - What Can We Do? Response of Magnolia School District July 5, 2018 Response: Magnolia School District disagrees with this finding as it pertains to Magnolia School District. The District requires all teachers, staff, and volunteers to wear ID badges while on campus and when visiting other campuses. These safety measures make the identification of authorized personnel easy for substitute teachers, student teachers, visitors, volunteers, and first responders. F. 6. 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: The Magnolia School District agrees with this finding, although as an elementary school district we do not have middle or high school students.

Campus personnel and volunteers, while on duty outside the classroom, have an inconsistent usage or availability of communication devices for emergency situations. Response: The Magnolia School District disagrees with this finding as it pertains to Magnolia School District's nine campuses. Custodians and activity supervisors have two-way communication devices with them at all times, enabling instant two-way communication with the school office.

There is no documentation or reporting protocol within the districts of individual security incidents, making it difficult to track, analyze, and summarize such incidents. Response: The Magnolia School District disagrees with this finding. All individual security incidents on Magnolia School District properties are reported directly to the Office of the Superintendent.

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: The Magnolia School District agrees with this finding. Currently, Magnolia School District, through the support of local law enforcement and site teams, utilize the Compliance Checklist for a Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CEC Sections 32280-32289) as a measure to develop individual school safety plans. RECOMMENDATIONS