Perimeter Security for Students, Staff and Facilities

 by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

It is with a great deal of excitement and a deep sense of responsibility for the safety of our students that the District is pleased to announce that it will be providing additional security measures for our students, staff and facilities at the Sacaton Elementary School District #18. A secure iron fence will be installed around the school district perimeter. It will be approximately eight foot high and will go completely around the school district. There will be brick columns to add strength and eye appeal. By securing the perimeters of the district, we will be able to provide additional assurances that students, staff and our facilities will be safe.

Individual access to our schools and our students and staff will be through the building offices at the district, elementary and middle school. Employees will use a Frequency Operated Button (FOB) to open gates and/or doors for access inside the fenced perimeter to enter their respective school. All visitor entries will be marked with appropriate signage to direct individual traffic through office doors or other entries. Buses will drop off elementary students behind the perimeter fence though the automated gates. Middle School students will be dropped off in front of school to enter through the gated portals.

The District has been planning this project for over a year. It is imperative that we protect our students and give parents the peace of mind knowing their children will have an additional perimeter of safety. 

Below are several architectural renderings of the project.

As we complete the final details of the project, we would like to ask our stakeholders (students, staff, parents, and community members) to complete a quick survey regarding the color of the iron fence. Below is a survey link we encourage you to open to take the “Sacaton Schools Security Fence Color Options. Please click on the link or use the QR code to begin taking the survey.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L7N6KX2

The “Sacaton School Security Fence Color Option” survey will close at noon on August 9, 2024.

Safety and Security Our First Priority

 by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski    

I can't believe the end of the 1st Quarter is just around the corner. Today marks 38 days of school. Next Friday, October 6, 2023 marks the end of Quarter 1. With the last 38 days in mind, I want to compliment the staff and students on the hard work and effort so far this year. Our school attendance rate is above 90%. If we can continue to improve our rate of attendance, I am sure we will see a vast improvement in our academic outcomes. 

During the last several months I have worked with the Board and the Administrative Team to develop goals, strategic objectives and actions plans for this year. The Governing School Board will consider a final ratification of the Strategic Plan at the October 17, 2023 Board Meeting.  None the less we have been working on the implementation of Goal Area 1: Safe and Healthy Environment, as it is of the first and foremost priority that we have. It is a foundation of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. Health and safety needs must be met before academic and cognitive needs can be successfully realized. Goal Area 1 states that Sacaton Elementary School District will have systems in place that will ensure that students and staff thrive in a safe and healthy environment. Our statement of intended outcome outlines the focus of this goal: Sacaton Schools systems will provide a safe and secure educational environment that is proactive and responsive to known and unknown threats at the district, school and classroom levels ensuring the physical, mental and emotional safety of students and staff.

The Strategic Objectives outline the steps that district intentions and actions:

1. Sacaton Elementary School District will secure its campus. 

1. Action Step: Evaluating the security of district grounds and facilities.

1. Evaluating security signage and implementing signage where needed.

2. Evaluation of the current district perimeter needs.

1. Implementation of a perimeter  barrier to direct all visitor flow through the main entrances or building offices.

3. Evaluate access points and perimeters for authentication and entry.

1. Building, room and gate authentication and entry.

2. Sacaton Elementary School District will provide  appropriate surveillance to mitigate and follow up with potential crisis.

1. Action Step: Evaluating current placement and effectiveness of cameras in the surveillance system.

2. Action Step: Implementing additional cameras where needed.

3. Action Step: Implementing vap and noise detectors in bathrooms.

4. Action Step: Implementing surveillance screens for live view by administration.

3. Sacaton Elementary School District will be prepared to respond to potential crisis.

1. Action Step: Identifying an Emergency Response Plan Coordinator(s).

1. Updating the job description for the Emergency Response Plan Coordinator(s) to include planning as well as management duties.

2. Action Step: Developing  and implementing a District Emergency Crisis Planning Manual.

3. Action Step: Working with response agencies to analyze emergency preparedness using a Planning Committee.

4. Action Step: Implementing an Emergency Response Protocols and Procedures Handbook.

5. Action Step: Identifying and implementing crisis software for notification, identification, and reunification in an emergency situation.

6. Action Step: Providing emergency response and protocol training to appropriate staff for responding in the case of emergencies. 

7. Action Step: Schedule and conduct monthly crisis drills.

4. Sacaton Elementary School District will assess current notification communication systems. 

1. Action Step: Assess current web software for providing emergency information to all stakeholders.

5. Sacaton Elementary School District will provide adequate measures of response to basic medical emergencies. 

1. Action Step:  Assess and implement Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) to meet adequate measures for response to cardiopulmonary  resuscitation.

2. Action Step: Provide basic response training in all buildings

1. AED Training and Use

2. CPR Training

3. First Aid Training

Providing a safe and healthy environment is critical in the development of students. School should be a 100% safe space for all students. At Sacaton Elementary School District we want our parents, grandparents and loved ones to know that the safety of their family here at school is our number one priority. 

BE BRAVE and remember SAFETY FIRST!