DC Prep operations staff presented a detailed review of current safety practices and new priorities on Sept. 17, telling the board that dismissal procedures and perimeter safety would be a primary focus for the year.

Alicia, presenting for the operations team, said one of the "most foundational things we do to prevent safety issues is building really strong relationships with all of our stakeholders," and described layers of prevention that include posted duty staff, contracted security guards, visitor protocols, drills and regular vulnerability assessments.

To address recurring issues around dismissal, DC Prep has contracted off‑duty Metropolitan Police Department officers to assist with traffic direction, parking enforcement and perimeter patrols during dismissal windows. Alicia said the officers' role is limited to traffic, parking and perimeter patrol; "they are not in our buildings," she told the board, and they do not engage directly with students in routine duties.

The network also tightened visitor protocols: starting this year, visitors are required to show a photo ID at building entry and staff received photo IDs and lanyards during orientation to make staff and visitors easier to identify. Alicia said the changes are intended to better track visitor purpose and location on campus and to help staff quickly spot unfamiliar individuals.

Physical upgrades include camera system replacements at Benning and Edgewood campuses, additional cameras to cover blind spots, fencing around Benning's parking lot and multiple door and lock replacements completed over the summer. The operations team also cited quarterly lockdown drills and an external vulnerability assessment completed in 2023 as part of ongoing improvement work.

Board members thanked the team and recounted a recent nearby shooting reported to parents; Alicia reiterated that DC Prep subscribes to the city alert system and that campus staff are trained on appropriate building modes and responses. She invited board members to follow up by email and said the ops team will continue to report progress on dismissal safety and related investments.

Next step: DC Prep will monitor dismissal operations and officer deployment, collect feedback from families and staff, and report updates to the board at future meetings.