Rialto Unified unveils 2026–27 school safety plans; board presses staff on parent notifications

Rialto Unified School District staff on Wednesday presented draft 2026–27 school safety plans and answered trustees’ and parents’ questions about how the district will notify families during emergencies.

"Les presentaré un bosquejo de nuestros planes de seguridad, incluso incluyendo los requisitos legales, componentes claves y el trabajo que se realiza en nuestros planteles escolares para apoyar entornos seguros de aprendizaje," said Gus Páez, identified in the meeting as the district’s chief of safety, describing the district process for drafting site-level plans.

Principals from several schools described site-level committee work, use of prior-year data and drills, and measures for student reunification after incidents. "Este plan integral cubre muchos aspectos de la vida escolar… respuestas de emergencia y seguridad de los estudiantes son algunos," said Dr. Caroline Sweeney, principal at Rialto High School, explaining that plans are reviewed by parent, student and staff committees before school‑site approval.

Trustees and speakers from the public pressed staff on access and timing of notifications. The board heard that, for security reasons, plans will not be posted online as full tactical manuals but that each school maintains copies on site and will provide requested information to community members. The district also described a communications protocol intended to reduce parent uncertainty during incidents: the first ParentSquare notification is targeted to be sent within five minutes of an incident when possible, with a follow-up at about 30 minutes and regular updates thereafter as circumstances evolve.

"La primera notificación a través de Parent Square debe ser mandada … dentro de 5 minutos del incidente, si es posible," the district said when explaining its notification timeline, emphasizing the tension between immediate outreach and operational security.

Parents at the meeting raised practical concerns about reaching families who lack reliable internet or who speak primarily Spanish; trustees directed staff to continue outreach and to use school-based meetings, translated materials and targeted community contacts to broaden engagement. Several trustees urged that site councils include clear, simple language for parents describing where and how to request plan copies.

The district reiterated that each school must complete its review and bring the plan back for formal adoption per Education Code requirements and board policy. No formal adoption occurred Wednesday; staff said plans will return to the board once site councils have finalized drafts and any requested clarifications have been incorporated.

Next steps: staff will continue community outreach and refine the presentation of the plans for public review and for formal adoption by the board and site-level governing groups.