District outlines school-safety framework and asks staff to evaluate need for additional SRO coverage

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District laid out a multi-part school-safety strategy at its May 28 board meeting, and board members asked staff to evaluate whether the district needs additional school resource officer (SRO) coverage.

Director of operations Ronis told the board the district frames safety around three areas: school climate, student behavior and campus infrastructure. He described programs the district uses to support a positive climate — counselors and SAGE therapists, the Second Step social-emotional curriculum, a PBIS program at elementary and middle schools, and a pilot anti-bullying program called Olweus at two elementary sites. Ronis also described infrastructure investments such as perimeter fencing, buzzer-access doors, expanded security cameras and a visitor-management system (Raptor).

Superintendent Dr. Serrano said the district partners with Allcove, a free youth center in Redondo Beach that provides mental-health and substance-use support for people ages 12–25, and noted the district will push summer reminders to families about the service.

Board members focused much of their questioning on SRO coverage and cost. Ronis said the district currently has two full‑time SROs and that the joint contract cost for the two positions is approximately $285,000 per year; adding a third officer would require additional city or district funding and collective budgeting conversations with partner cities. He said prior discussions at the Peninsula Public Safety Committee had not resulted in a recommendation for a third SRO and that grant eligibility had changed on a previously used tobacco-grant funding source.

Multiple board members asked staff to produce a focused report analyzing current SRO coverage, response times, gaps and options — including cost estimates for adding a full or part‑time SRO, possibilities for shared city funding and non-personnel investments such as communications infrastructure. "Let's not wait," one board member said, urging a data-driven evaluation to inform any decision about adding resources.

The board also pressed staff for school-site data on discipline, suspension and counseling metrics, and asked for a site-by-site breakdown of student-support usage to measure whether interventions are meeting needs. Staff said they would provide more detailed school-site reports and an options memo on SRO staffing and costs.

No formal motion to add SRO funding was made; the board directed staff to return with a report and recommendations.