The 2016–2017 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury Requires that the Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools

In a threat situation, timely and specific communication from the school to the community can reduce fear, anxiety, anger, and frustration. __X__ AGREE _____ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE agrees with this finding. Effective and timely communication is a necessary component of each district’s threat assessment plan. The Countywide Threat Assessment Plan for Schools will include a description of communication protocols that will address how parents and community members receive information before, during, and after a threat situation.

Confusion over the disclosure of protected information regarding juveniles has been a barrier to the timely exchange of vital information between school districts and law enforcement, although FERPA permits disclosure of juvenile student information to law enforcement without parental consent. _____ AGREE __X__ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE partially agrees that clarity is needed along with the flexibility that districts have in providing student information to law enforcement. Recently, broadened Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations offer an emergency exception to sharing data with law enforcement. According to these regulations, if a school perceives an “articulable and significant threat” under the “totality of the circumstances” and documents this in a student’s records access log, the school can then share the records. Many schools, but not all, follow these regulations. School personnel who are responsible with communication with law enforcement in a threat situation will receive training as it relates to providing student information to law enforcement during a threat assessment situation.

Threat assessment is a necessary part of the comprehensive school safety plan, but very little direct guidance has been provided to school districts in how to go about doing it. _____ AGREE __X__ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE partially agrees that all school districts need to receive guidance and support in the Comprehensive School Safety Plans. During the 2016-17 school year, the COE provided some guidance to the districts in relation to the development of their safety plans. This guidance included two School Safety collaborative meetings, a review of the new version of the Emergency Operations Response Plan, an invitation to participate in training entitled “Effective Response to Student Threats of Violence Using Evidence based Method,” and monthly meetings of the Student Services Directors of each school district. However, more can be done to provide guidance and support to school districts. The COE, in collaboration with law enforcement, will offer trainings on threat assessment to certificated, classified and administrative personnel. Further, the Countywide Threat Assessment Plan for Schools will define the process for districts to develop and incorporate threat assessment protocols into their Comprehensive School Safety Plans.

Investigating a threat may involve actions that can only be done by law enforcement, necessitating coordination and collaboration in formulating and implementing a threat assessment plan. __X__ AGREE _____ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE agrees that law enforcement is a key partner in creating a positive outcome in a threat situation. The threat assessment process is a continuum that will involve law enforcement in different capacities. Generally, a threat assessment inquiry is initiated and controlled by school authorities (often with law enforcement consultation and participation). Evaluation of a threatening situation can proceed from a threat assessment inquiry, carried out by the school threat assessment team, to a threat assessment investigation, carried out by a law enforcement agency (if the initial inquiry determines that there is a valid threat of targeted school violence or that it is likely that a violation of law has occurred). Law enforcement personnel are key to the planning, training, and implementation of all aspects of a threat assessment process.

Seven of the ten districts have a specific threat assessment plan; those districts without a plan are less able to respond effectively to threats. All of these reported that local law enforcement was aware of their plan. __X__ AGREE _____ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE agrees with this finding and believes that effective procedures are needed in every school district to assess threats which include establishing district- wide policies and procedures, creating interdisciplinary assessment teams, and educating the school community. The Countywide Threat Assessment Plan for Schools will ensure that every district in Santa Cruz County incorporate threat assessment components into their Comprehensive School Safety Plans.

Only one school district had a threat assessment plan that was created with the help of law enforcement, leaving all other districts at a disadvantage in addressing threats. __X__ AGREE _____ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE agrees with this finding. Districts that have a threat assessment plan, developed in conjunction with law enforcement, are more likely to have an effective response to threats. The COE will support each of the 10 districts in building this relationship with law enforcement agencies. Further, law enforcement personnel are involved in the planning and developing of the Countywide Threat Assessment Plan for Schools. School Safety Partnership meetings will ensure their ongoing participation in the development of the plan.

Three of the four districts with a single school lack the personnel to adequately assemble a threat assessment team. __X__ AGREE _____ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE will work with small school districts to ensure that they have the ability to assemble a threat assessment team. Law enforcement personnel are committed to supporting all school districts in addressing threat assessment.

All threat assessment teams had training in the 2015-16 school year, but not all districts attended a professional threat assessment training held in the spring of 2017. __X__ AGREE _____ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE Response: The COE agrees with this finding. Not all districts participated in the threat assessment training held earlier in 2017. It is important for all districts to participate annually in professional development as part of their threat assessment plan. Professional development for threat assessment teams and other personnel represents a fundamental component of a safety plan. The Countywide Threat Assessment Plan for Schools will identify appropriate training opportunities. The COE will work to plan professional development opportunities that encourage every school district to participate.

Countywide, only two of 11 SROs were included as members of a threat assessment team. __X__ AGREE _____ PARTIALLY DISAGREE _____ DISAGREE School Resource Officers represent key members of a school’s threat assessment team. Schools that do not have resource officers need to have law enforcement personnel assigned to support them when a threat situation occurs. During the 2017-18 school year, school districts will be partnered with law enforcement officers during the School Safety Partnership meetings.