One is Too Many

The Grand Jury found that School Pool Safety Plans varied from comprehensive to almost nonexistent.

Atascadero Unified School District’s School Pool Safety plan will meet their needs with only minor modifications. We commend the Atascadero School District for responding to the tragic accident at their high school by developing a plan to protect future students.

Lucia Mar Unified School District has clear rules for student behavior and an excellent Emergency Action Plan flow chart. However, they fail to have a plan for 7 instructor qualifications or facility safety. It is also unclear whether instructors at Arroyo Grande High and Nipomo High are familiar with the Emergency Action Plan flow chart.

Cayucos Elementary School District has rules for student behavior. They need to refine their rules for instructor qualifications and develop an emergency action plan. They should work with the County of San Luis Obispo to create a facility safety plan.

Paso Robles Public Schools need to develop a school pool safety plan. They may choose to adopt the rules from the City of Paso Robles, but should also include an emergency plan specific to school use.

Recommend that the County Superintendent of Schools monitor school pool safety plans to ensure that each school district using a pool has adequate safety policies in place.

The San Luis Obispo County Superintendent of Schools, Atascadero Unified School District, Lucia Mar Unified School District, Paso Robles Public Schools and Cayucos Elementary School District should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. REQUIRED RESPONSES Responses to the recommendations are required from the following: • Atascadero Unified School District – Finding #1 & #2, Recommendations #1 & #2 • Lucia Mar Unified School District - Finding #1 & #3, Recommendation #3 • Paso Robles Public Schools – Finding #1 & #4, Recommendation #4 • Cayucos Elementary School District – Finding #1 & #5, Recommendation #5 • San Luis Obispo County Superintendent of Schools – Finding #1, Recommendations #6 & #7 . The responses from the Atascadero Unified School District, the Lucia Mar Unified School District, the Paso Robles Public Schools, the Cayucos Elementary School District and San Luis Obispo County Superintendent of Schools shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge at the San Luis Obispo Superior court by August 12, 2009. Please provide a copy of all responses to the Grand Jury as well. The responses from the San Luis County Board of Supervisors shall be submitted to the Presiding Judge at the San Luis Obispo Superior court by September 11, 2009. Please provide a copy of all responses to the Grand Jury as well. The mailing addresses for delivery are: Presiding Judge Grand Jury Presiding Judge Martin Tangeman San Luis Obispo County Grand Superior Court of California Jury 1035 Palm, Room 385 P.O. Box 4910 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 APPENDIX A Atascadero High School Pool Rules 1. Urinating or blowing the nose in the pool prohibited.

Swimmers will not run on or around pool areas or deck.

No diving will be allowed in the shallow half of the pool off the deck or off of the starting platforms. Only those competitive swimmers instructed in proper technique will be allowed to use starting platforms in competitive practice or meets.

No glass will be allowed in the pool area.

The deck of the pool shall be clear of all unused equipment. All equipment must be put away after use. Nothing is to be left around the pool deck.

All safety equipment, including first aid kit, shall be readily available and in its proper place at all times.

No bather shall enter the pool area unless a qualified instructor or lifeguards is on duty in the immediate pool area.

The instructor, pool assistant, and/or lifeguard must always enter the pool area first to secure the area and be the last to leave the pool after checking carefully to see that all are out. No one should enter the water until so instructed by the person(s) in charge of supervision.

Head first diving from the pool deck is prohibited in water depths less than eight feet.