SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane Public School District went over several safety updates in Wednesday night's meeting.
The presentation highlighted the following focus areas that are in progress for the school district:
- Updating district-wide security cameras with new software, replacing obsolete cameras, and installing additional cameras where necessary.
- Increasing levels of campus safety staff and providing additional safety training for all staff and students.
- Exploring advanced intruder alert technology, such as artificial intelligence integrated with security cameras that could identify weapons and alert administrators.
- Establishing standards for more widespread use of vape detectors devices, already piloted in several schools, which interface with our existing security platform.
These focus areas come in the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School In Uvalde, Texas. The shooting claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers, sparking a nationwide debate on school safety.
According to a press release from the district, Chief Academic Officer Heather Bybee and Chief Operating Officer Shawn Jordan also reviewed school safety strategies now in place. These strategies include mandatory reporting and harassment, intimidation and bullying, the threat assessment model, required lockdown drills, single point of entry and door badging systems.
"The safety of each student and each school is on ongoing focus," Jordan said. "Safety is not the responsibility of just a few staff but rather every member of the school community ... all staff, all students, and all families. Our safety model is focused on prevention, intervention, and support along with appropriate response when a critical incident occurs."
Click here to view the full presentation.