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Los Alamitos Unified highlights multi-layered safety measures, expands mental-health supports
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Pulver told the board the district uses layered safety measures — site safety plans, fencing, cameras, lock blocks, AEDs and on-campus mental-health professionals — and reinforced emergency communications and the district's anonymous reporting system.
Superintendent Dr. Pulver outlined a series of layered safety and student-support measures the Los Alamitos Unified School District uses to protect students and staff, emphasizing prevention, communication and campus readiness.
Pulver told the Board of Education on Sept. 9 that each campus maintains an annually reviewed comprehensive safety plan, and that the district combines secure fencing, controlled entry points and surveillance cameras to control campus access. "We have many layers in place, including, all of our schools maintain a comprehensive safety plan," Pulver said.
Pulver described specific hardware and protocols the district has installed or upgraded: shatter-resistant Mylar window film, lock blocks on classroom doors that allow staff to secure rooms from the inside, and external automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on every campus. The superintendent said the district has ordered an additional AED for the new Griffin Center gymnasium.
Mental-health services are part of the safety strategy. "We have mental-health professionals on every campus," Pulver said, adding that investments in counseling and prevention are a critical layer of keeping schools safe. She also promoted the district's anonymous reporting tool, "Say Something," which allows students, staff or community members to alert administrators to concerns.
On communications, Pulver said the district will use ParentSquare as its primary family-notification tool and will employ multiple channels (text, phone and email) in a true emergency. She said administrators will assess situations first to ensure student safety before sending broad messages.
Pulver also pointed to partnerships with local law enforcement, noting the city of Los Alamitos funds a school resource officer who is based at Los Alamitos High School but supports other district sites as needed.
The presentation followed a student report and board discussion about school climate and supports. Board members praised the district's layered approach and asked clarifying questions about operational details such as lock-block use and expectations for independent study absences. Pulver and district staff reiterated that the district aims to balance day-to-day access with security and to continue refining practices through training and community communication.
The board did not take separate formal action on the safety report; the presentation was provided as part of the superintendent's regular report.
