Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts consultant's safety recommendations and sets implementation plan
Summary
The Los Gatos‑Saratoga Union High School District board voted to accept a comprehensive safety review from Knowledge Saves Lives and to use it as a two‑year implementation ‘playbook,’ prioritizing a Behavioral Threat Assessment Team, improved access control and family reunification planning.
The Los Gatos‑Saratoga Union High School District board voted to accept a safety assessment and recommendations from consultants Knowledge Saves Lives and directed district staff to begin implementing priorities drawn from the report.
Superintendent Rocha, who introduced the consultants, said safety was a top priority for her on taking the job and described the consultant report as a ‘blueprint’ for district implementation. “Safety is going to be the number one priority,” she said, and the district has already begun convening a districtwide safety team to translate the consultant recommendations into action.
David Westrick, chief of client risk services for Knowledge Saves Lives, presented the findings and introduced Paul, the firm's CEO, to summarize practical recommendations. The consultants advised the district to establish Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams (multi‑disciplinary teams including administrators, mental‑health clinicians and sworn partners), to strengthen access control (including key‑control and keyless entry systems), and to document family reunification procedures to guide responses in emergencies.
Board members questioned who would lead implementation and how recommendations would be integrated into the district facilities master plan. Superintendent Rocha said implementation would be led by her office and district staff, using the report as a playbook and that the district has already prioritized four of the consultant's top recommendations for initial work.
A motion to accept the recommendations was made, seconded and approved by roll call. The board directed staff to return with specific proposals and any items requiring procurement or facilities changes for future board approval.
Next steps announced at the meeting include district safety team meetings to sequence recommendations and bringing any capital or equipment proposals (for example, camera, access‑control or lock changes) back to the board for separate approvals.
