District outlines security measures, reports 10 of 14 CSSO positions filled
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Summary
Security director Steve Vera told the board the district uses single-point campus entry, ID badges, Raptor visitor checks and bus video surveillance; 10 of 14 commissioned school security officer positions have been filled, with four remaining open.
Steve Vera, the district security director, presented an overview of Bentonville’s security and safety plan at the Feb. 17 board meeting and said safety remains a top priority.
Vera listed current measures in place across campuses: mandatory staff ID badges and student IDs for secondary schools, locked classroom doors, single-point entries for visitors who must check in through the Raptor visitor management system (which includes checks against registered offender databases), bus video surveillance and regular safety drills. "We will continuously evaluate our security measures and update as needed," Vera said.
Vera described a multilayer approach including threat-assessment teams at every school, behavioral monitoring and monthly security audits that are shared with principals, executive directors and Doctor Jones. He said the district is using the Raptor emergency alert app for staff mass notifications.
On staffing, Vera said the board approved 14 commissioned school security officer (CSSO) positions for elementary and middle schools; "10 schools have been filled with security officers, and we're still waiting to fill 4," he said, adding the district is prioritizing hiring former police officers and military veterans and continues to accept applications and schedule interviews.
A board member asked whether CSSO positions are annualized contracts or ongoing salaries; Vera replied the positions are annual 182-day, hourly contracts.
The presentation was informational; the board did not take formal policy action during the security briefing.
