Board approves updated school safety plans with revised emergency terminology
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Summary
Director of Student Services John Novick presented the annual comprehensive site and district safety plans, including terminology changes (e.g., lockout→secure perimeter, active shooter→active threat) and limited public inspection of sensitive protocols; the board approved the plans.
John Novick, director of student services, presented Benicia Unified’s annual comprehensive school safety plans and explained several updates recommended after consultation with local police and fire departments.
“We updated lockout to secure perimeter,” Novick said, and noted other terminology changes including active shooter to active threat, student with a gun to human with a gun, and nonhuman threat to bomb or device. He explained that some elements of safety plans — detailed lockdown procedures and evacuation routes — are withheld from public distribution to avoid creating security vulnerabilities, but that non-sensitive portions are available for public inspection at school sites under California law.
Novick said the police department trained district administrators on emergency alerts and active-threat protocols and that the district is conducting collaborative safety walks with the Benicia Police Department at each school site.
Board members thanked staff for the cross-agency collaboration. A trustee moved to approve the comprehensive site and district safety plans and the board adopted the plans by roll call.
The plan's adoption requires annual review; the district will continue to coordinate trainings with local first responders and update site-level details with site administrators and school-site councils.