Ventura County Grand Jury • 2008-2009 • Agency Response
Response to: School Districts

Somis Union School District*

Published: August 13, 2008 53 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 45 findings

F01 Page 23
It was reported that 76% of the schools were free of hazardous materials. Twenty-four percent reported having some hazardous materials (e.g. paints, asbestos, and chemicals); however, these were appropriately stored and were, "... .encapsulated and were non-friable." Response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R01
Page 1
All school districts should comply with AB 722 to maintain the recommended students: counselor ratios. Counseling is an important and effective support service. Somis has sixty students in grades 7 and 8. During the 2007-2008 school year, the District provided five hours of counseling a week. This program will be continued based on the continued funding and the availability of a credentialed hourly counselor.
F02 Page 23
The Office of the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools issues air quality alerts to all Ventura County School Districts. Schools reduce physical activities and outdoor exposure of students and staff during these alerts. RECEIVED Response: Agree. AUG 2 6 2008 1 VENTURA COUNTY <b>GRAND JURY</b>
Related Recommendations (1)
R02
Page 1
All schools should have a dedicated SRO on campus during school hours. As a small single school district with a total of 260 students (K-8) on campus during school hours, it is cost prohibitive for this agency to employ a full time SRO. Given the size and location of the school, it is not an effective use of limited resources for either the school or local law enforcement. The District maintains a strong relationship and has excellent communication with law enforcement and draws support on an on-going basis. The District will continue to support this relationship and address issues and concerns with the agency and the District Safety Committee.
F03 Page 24
All schools reported that they are in compliance with fire codes. Response: Agree. All Schools are inspected annually by a Ventura County Fire Marshall. Many
Related Recommendations (1)
R03
Page 1
All permanent and temporary classrooms should have doors that latch from the inside. The District is reviewing the number of classrooms that can not be secured from the inside and will address this recommendation during the 2008-2009 school year.
F04 Page 24
Schools reported additional unscheduled local Fire Department inspections. Response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R04
Page 1
All schools should issue unique identification badges to visitors. The school currently has a published visitor sign in procedure. All visitors are issued badgest they sign in on campus. AUG 1 9 2008 3 .
F05 Page 24
Seventy-six percent of schools are secured with fencing and gates; the remainders have partial perimeter fencing. <b>Response:</b> Agree. All middle schools in the Oxnard School District have full perimeter fencing and gates that are locked during the school day.
Related Recommendations (1)
R05
Page 2
All schools should have perimeter fencing with locking gates to secure their campus. The campus has perimeter fencing and locking gates. All gates are kept locked during the school day and a single entrance directs visitors to the school office.
F06 Page 24
Schools with full perimeter fencing have locked gates for outside entry during the school day. Schools with partial perimeter fencing have assigned Campus Supervisors to control all entry points. Signage at schools directs all visitors to the front office. Response: Agree. All Schools are in compliance with Title 5, California Code of Regulations, which
Related Recommendations (1)
R06
Page 2
All schools should continue/enhance anti-bullying and tolerance programs. The District has adopted Second Step as a core anti-bullying and tolerance program. It also supports a school- wide character education program. Monthly assemblies support classroom instruction in anti-bulling and good character. Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Somis Union School District Board of Trustees Dr. Mary H. McKee Superintendent Attachment: Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting August 12, 2008 Honorable Colleen Toy White, Presiding Judge cc: Superior Court of California, Ventura County Hall of Justice, #2120 C . . . . . 2 9 100 A California Distinguished School UNIFIED Conejo Valley Unified School District Committed <b>PUPIL SERVICES</b> to Excellence 1400 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, California 91362-2198 Telephone (805) 497-9511 • FAX (805) 373-6981 Mario Contini Linda L. Calvin, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools Associate Director Pupil Services Lisa Dritz Assistant Director Pupil Servicea September 10, 2008 S. Victoria Ave., L#3751 Ventura, CA 93009 And Honorable Colleen Toy White, Presiding Judge Superior Court of California, Ventura County Hall of Justice, #2120 800 S. Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009 Dear Sirs: On behalf of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, the attachment contains our responses to the recommendations sited in the Ventura County 2007-2008 Grand Jury report entitled, Ventura County Middle Schools Safety and Welfare. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, Jinda Ledin, AD Linda L. Calvin, Ph.D. Associate Director Pupil Services cc: Mario Contini, Superintendent, Conejo Valley Unified School District Janet Cosaro, Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Services Division RECEIVED SEP 2 3 2008 VENTURA COUNTY<br>GRAND JURY HIGH EXPECTATIONS HIGH ACHIEVEMENT CONEJO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 1400 East Janss Road Thousand Oaks, California 91362 September 10, 2008 TO: Ventura County Grand Jury FROM: Conejo Valley Unified School, Instructional Services Division, Office of Pupil Services RE: Response to the Ventura County 2007-2008 Grand Jury Report: Ventura County Middle Schools Safety and Welfare Per your request, the following are our responses to the list of recommendations made by the Ventura County Grand Jury: Grand Jury Recommendation Conejo District Response R-O1
F07 Page 24
requires "Educational facilities planned by school districts shall be designed to meet federal, state, and local statutory requirements for structure, fire, and public safety." Response: Agree. Ninety-two percent of classrooms have telephones with outside line access.
No recommendations for this finding
F08 Page 24
Response: Agree. Every classroom in the District's middle schools has a telephone with outside line access. All Schools reported that campus maintenance is being performed appropriately
No recommendations for this finding
F09 Page 24
by their respective District Facilities and Maintenance Departments. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F10 Page 24
Forty-four percent of schools have classroom doors that lock from the inside. <b>Response:</b> Agree, with the clarification that all main doors to the front offices, quad buildings, and classrooms have indoor lock bars. Portables do not lock from the inside. 2
No recommendations for this finding
F11 Page 25
Fifty-six percent of schools report that some of their classrooms do not have doors that lock from the inside. <b>Response:</b> Agree, with the clarification that all classrooms have indoor lock bars except for classrooms in portable buildings.
No recommendations for this finding
F12 Page 25
None of the portable classrooms have doors that lock from the inside. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F13 Page 25
All schools have updated comprehensive School Safety Plans. Drills are practiced regularly and results are recorded, filed, and discussed by staff to ensure expected results were achieved. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F14 Page 25
Most schools completed updates of their safety plans during the fourth quarter of 2007; other schools updated plans during the first quarter of 2008. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F15 Page 25
All schools have a Crisis Containment Plan that is part of their comprehensive School Safety Plan. Lock-down drills are performed several times annually and results are recorded, filed, and discussed by staff to ensure expected results were achieved. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F16 Page 25
Ninety-six percent of schools have annual in-service training for staff on safety issues as directed by their School Safety Plans. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F17 Page 25
All schools conduct safety drills several times annually. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F18 Page 25
All schools notify staff regarding potentially violent/troubled students. Response: Agree. All schools have emergency parent notification plans in place. Notification
No recommendations for this finding
F19 Page 25
options include automated telephone message systems (Connect-Ed, Parent- Connect, All Call Voice Out), and some schools may also use E-mail and local radio station broadcasts. <b>Response:</b> Agree. The Oxnard School District uses NTI-Connect-Ed. 3
No recommendations for this finding
F20 Page 26
Schools use various policies/actions as guided by the applicable Education Code, to enforce discipline including: referrals to school administration, parent conferences, Student Attendance Review Boards (SARB), progressive discipline plans (e.g. detention, suspension, expulsion). Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F21 Page 26
All school visitors are required to sign in at the front office and most are provided a visitor's identification badge if they have a valid reason to be on campus. Staff checks visitor information including: verifying emergency cards against valid visitor identification, verifying campus volunteer identification to ensure that they are cleared by district offices, requiring that all vendors check in at the front office before entering campuses, challenging any visitor who does not have a valid visitor's identification badge. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F22 Page 26
Eighty-eight percent of schools have an identification badge system. Response: Agree. All teachers/staff at the Oxnard School District have name badges and visitors receive visitor passes.
No recommendations for this finding
F23 Page 26
All schools have approximately three days of emergency supplies on campus. These typically include: potable water, food, emergency medical supplies, blankets, flashlights, and communication devices (e.g., two-way radios, etc.) Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F24 Page 26
All schools have several two-way radios (walkie-talkies) that are used by campus supervisors. Response: Agree. Ninety-two percent of schools have peer mediation and conflict resolution
No recommendations for this finding
F25 Page 26
programs. The other schools have counselor/administration mediation and conflict resolution programs in place. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F26 Page 26
Counselors provide support for these programs through individual and group counseling. The programs include: Rachel's challenge, Second Step, Safe School Ambassadors Programs, "Don't Laugh at me", Character Counts, Word Trait of the Month, and Pride Program. Response: Agree. One counselor, funded by the Pupil Retention Block Grant, also serves as an outreach consultant. 4
No recommendations for this finding
F27 Page 27
All schools have unique programs that address bullying, intolerance, and that provide character education. Schools often use one or more of the programs listed in the previous finding. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F28 Page 27
All schools except one have at least one counselor. <b>Response:</b> Agree. All middle schools in the Oxnard School District have at least one counselor.
No recommendations for this finding
F29 Page 27
Students: counselor ratio ranges from 314:1 to 840:1. Response: Agree. All schools report having a close working relationship with their local law
No recommendations for this finding
F30 Page 27
enforcement and have direct and immediate access to officers via telephone. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F31 Page 27
Nine schools have dedicated SROs assigned to their campuses; some schools may share one officer. These officers are generally on campus two to four hours, three or four days each week. SROs provide services such as: counseling students, serving as deterrent to inappropriate behavior, conducting home visits as necessary, citing students for infractions, dealing with truancy issues, monitoring campus for intruders. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F32 Page 27
School Resource Officers ("SRO"s) are generally compensated by local law enforcement agencies, school districts, individual cities, federal grants under Title IV (Safe and Drug Free Schools) and/or combinations of these. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F33 Page 27
Eighty-four percent of schools encourage parental participation in their school crime prevention effort. <b>Response:</b> Agree. The Oxnard School District encourages parental participation in crime prevention. The number of parents actively involved in crime prevention programs at these
No recommendations for this finding
F34 Page 27
schools is minimal. Response: Agree. 5
No recommendations for this finding
F35 Page 28
All schools report that they take threats seriously and deal with them immediately. Response: Agree. Schools follow district, local, state and federal guidelines for threats including:
No recommendations for this finding
F36 Page 28
investigating all threats thoroughly, notifying parents, involving SRO/law enforcement agencies when appropriate, debriefing staff, notifying district administrators, taking appropriate disciplinary action. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F37 Page 28
All schools have systems/procedures to facilitate anonymous reporting of threats/problems. These include: WeTip, Safe School Ambassadors, Standardized Emergency Management System, anonymous telephone hotline, anonymous notes to staff, E-mail. Response: Agree. Students are reluctant to report threats or problems.
No recommendations for this finding
F38 Page 28
Students are reluctant to report threats or problems. Response: Agree.
No recommendations for this finding
F39 Page 28
Eighty-four percent of schools have formal and/or informal awareness training programs for their staff and students. Various school safety issues are discussed at staff meetings, student body assemblies, and during counselor presentations. Topics include: lock-down procedures, awareness of strangers, identification badge system, incident reporting procedures, gang awareness, anti-bullying/anti- harassment, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, physical abuse, school safety rules. Response: Agree. The Oxnard School District holds regular assemblies to review school safety. <b>OTHER FINDINGS:</b> School campuses observed by the Grand Jury are well maintained.
No recommendations for this finding
F40 Page 28
Response: Agree. School administrators interviewed stated that perimeter fencing and gates help
No recommendations for this finding
F41 Page 28
control access to their campuses. Response: Agree. AB722 Study of Pupil Personnel Ratios, Services, and Programs, dated July
No recommendations for this finding
F42 Page 28
2003, recommends that the "adequate ratio" of students: counselor at middle schools is 461:1 Response: Agree. 6
No recommendations for this finding
F43 Page 29
AB722 also states, "Today's students face increased challenges with decreased support. Peer pressure, bullying at school, dysfunctional families, drug and tobacco use, growing teen suicide rates all contribute to student feelings of anxiety and depression and create barriers to learning. More than ever before, counseling and pupil support services play a critical role in the academic preparation and social development of our youth." <b>Response:</b> Agree with the clarification that the statement in F-43 is a citation from the Study of Pupil Personnel Ratios, Services and Programs (July 2003) published by the California Department of Education.
No recommendations for this finding
F44 Page 29
Law Enforcement Agencies throughout the County expressed support for having SROs on all middle and high school campuses. They further said that SROs help maintain secure campuses and promote safer learning environments. Response: Agree. The successful SRO works during the normal school day as well as during co-
No recommendations for this finding
F45 Page 29
curricular events. The SRO is instrumental in providing a safe environment conducive to the learning process. Students and faculty have a heightened perception of safety due to the work of the SRO. The SRO strives to improve the "working" environment for students, administrators, faculty, custodians, food service workers and others. Response: Agree. <b>RECOMMENDATIONS:</b> All school districts should comply with AB722 to maintain recommended student:
No recommendations for this finding

* 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.