Superintendent outlines layered school safety measures, lists security metrics

Superintendent Manuel presented the Germantown Municipal School District's annual school safety report at the Dec. 16 board meeting, detailing training programs, technology and partnerships the district uses to try to keep students and staff safe.

"So tonight, we are gonna talk about school safety," Manuel said, introducing Objective 2.3 and the annual report that the board and community can review. He listed recurring staff trainings (trauma first aid, active shooter response, reunification procedures, hazard communication), student programming and behavioral supports such as Capture Kids' Hearts and a student-led safety and wellness group the district calls its SWAT team.

Manuel described layered technology and partnerships: Raptor visitor check-in and reunification management; Bark for Schools anonymous threat monitoring; GoGuardian device monitoring; and safety partnerships with the Germantown Fire Department and Germantown Police Department. He said the district has eight dedicated school resource officers (SROs) at its schools and cited facility upgrades including additional badge-access points, expanded surveillance coverage, 3M security film on exterior glass, classroom door coverings and ADA-compliant door-locking systems.

He gave specific security metrics: 622 security cameras actively monitoring campuses, 34 AD units with 10 portable units available for travel, more than 1,500 students certified annually in CPR and AED (grades 7, 9 and 11) and over 350 minutes of staff safety training. Manuel and the board noted the full safety plan and details are posted on the district website and available for public review.

Board members thanked staff and partners for their work and noted the report will continue to be monitored and updated as needed.