Contra Costa County Grand Jury
• 2019-2020
• Agency Response
Transmittal Sheet*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 8 findings
F1
The California Education Code does not specify the type of supplies schools should maintain for emergencies. The district concurs and agrees to this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Each Contra Costa County school district board should consider adopting the Contra Costa County Office of Education Emergency Supplies list (minimum standard list) for its schools and identifying funding sources to purchase the supplies, by December 31, 2020 • This recommendation has been implemented... The District has already secured funding sources to procure the supplies – COVID-19 state money, CARES Act funds, and or General Funds.
F2
Each Contra Costa County school district determines its own emergency preparedness plans (based on California State Education Department guidelines), including the amount and type of emergency supplies to maintain at its schools. The district concurs and agrees to this finding. .
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The Contra Costa County Office of Education posts on its website a recommended list (minimum standard list) of emergency supplies for school districts. The district concurs and agrees to this finding. •
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Contra Costa County school district boards should consider applying for federal, state, corporate, and non-profit organization grants to fund the acquisition of school emergency supplies, by June 30, 2020. This recommendation has been implemented. The district is constantly researching external funding sources such as grants to promote instruction, support and safety for the District's students and employees. The District intends to continue to search for funding opportunities including ways to procure emergency supplies.
F4
Some Contra Costa County school districts did not demonstrate that they maintain supplies in conformity with the Contra Costa County Office of Education minimum standard list. The district concurs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Each Contra Costa County school district board should consider developing a plan to identify organizations that provide CPR and First Aid certification refresher training for district teachers, by December 31, 2020. This recommendation has already been implemented. We have a district health clerk who is a certified First Aid and CPR instructor. Likewise, we have dedicated PD time for our teaching and support staff to attend and become certified in both First Aid and CPR. The District has multiple relevant job descriptions that may require CPR and First Aid training including: special education paraprofessionals, all coaches, school site and district administrators. Education Code 49413 provides that a district MAY provide such trainings. The safety of our students and employees is always our top priority. We feel confident we can continue to promote the safety of our students and employees and not require or sponsor CPR and First Aid training for our four hundred plus teachers employed by the District. Moreover, in accordance with current state laws, teachers and other District employees are required to receive mandated child abuse, sexual harassment and suicide prevention trainings on an ongoing basis. The District fulfills these requirements with fidelity.
F5
Some Contra Costa County school districts fund purchasing and replenishment of emergency supplies through their annual budgets, but most school districts in Contra Costa County fund them through parent or community donations. The Knightsen Elementary School District uses its general funding source to • purchase and replenish its emergency supplies and have not relied on parent or community donations for this specific purpose. Instead, the District has typically relied on parent and community donations to directly fund classrooms.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Each Contra Cost County school district board should consider developing a plan to identifying, if necessary, to provide CPR and First Aid certification refresher training for district teachers, by December 31, 2020. This recommendation may not be implemented at this time due to the restrictions on social distancing and mass gatherings. Should the opportunity become available we will provide training for both teaching and support staff. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Grand Jury Report. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to contact the undersigned. Sincerely, Harvey Yurkovich Superintendent Knightsen Elementary School District
F6
Contra Costa County school districts can apply for federal, state, corporate or non- profit organization grants to help pay for the cost of acquiring and maintain school emergency supplies. The district concurs.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Each Contra Costa County school district has either a designated safety/resource officer or a school administrator who fills the safety/resource officer role. The Knightsen Elementary School District works closely with out local • Sheriff's Department. Each of the schools within the District have a principal who oversees school safety.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
There is no legal requirement that teachers renew CPR and First Aid certification training after teachers initially obtain their teaching credential. The district concurs. •
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.