Quarterly safety inspections: two minor noncompliance items corrected, district explains "safe area" decals and guest teacher badge rule

Dave Newland presented the Office of Safe Schools quarterly inspection report at the July 29 workshop, saying the district had 21 school inspections in the 2024–25 fourth quarter and that two noncompliance items had been corrected immediately.

Newland said the first noncompliance at Gateway Charter Upper Campus concerned an exterior cafeteria area where the assigned staffer was not at the door during the inspection and a safe‑area decal was missing from the gym, which the district treats as an instructional space. He said both issues were addressed immediately. He described the decal: “it was required by the state of Florida and our department of education… a safe area decal is required in every room of instruction… so if an act of assailant came into the classroom, they know exactly where to go, for cover and concealment.”

The other noncompliance was at Mariner Middle where one guest teacher was found without a Syntegix guest‑teacher badge; Newland said the district corrected the issue and has procedures for signing in and providing badges to guest teachers.

Board members praised the Office of Safe Schools’ recent safety work and the district’s safety day; no formal board action was recorded. Newland said the inspections and noncompliance items are part of a required quarterly process and are publicly presented.

Ending: Newland stood by for questions after reporting that both noncompliance items were corrected immediately and that the district is ensuring guest teacher badges and safe‑area decals are in place across campuses.