Security coordinator urges board to adopt districtwide safety plan focused on culture and training

Jeremy Hawker, the district coordinator of security, told the Grants‑Cibola County Schools board that school safety must be defined broadly and driven from the boardroom down. “How do you define school safety?” Hawker asked the board as he framed safety as daily work to improve school culture and environment.

Hawker described a multi‑part approach that prioritizes proactive measures and consistent, districtwide protocols that individual school plans can adapt. He said the goal is to avoid purely reactionary solutions — such as metal detectors or razor wire alone — and instead to emphasize training, shared procedures and recognition for staff who contribute to safety culture.

He outlined plans to develop a comprehensive safety protocol and suggested board involvement in drafting and approving a districtwide plan so that site‑level plans can be derived from it. Hawker proposed training options, including ALICE trainer sessions, and recommended scheduling tailored site visits and student‑level instruction about safety protocols.

Board members asked about community communications during drills, logistics for implementing protocols across diverse sites, and whether parts of the planning process might need to occur in executive session to avoid creating a playbook for malicious actors. Hawker acknowledged those concerns and said some elements could be sensitive while other parts — such as training parents and staff — are appropriate for public discussion.

Superintendent Weidner and board members agreed to the next step: administration and the security office will draft a recommended plan and protocols for board review and suggested a possible work session to provide feedback before seeking formal adoption.

The board did not take action at the meeting; Hawker said he would return with a draft plan and welcomed board feedback during the development process.