Happy Friday, Ukiah Unified! It feels great to have a more normal year this year, and I can’t believe September is already coming to a close. The focus of this communication is on crisis response and emergency preparedness. I want to review the supports we have in place to keep our campuses safe and ensure you know how and when we communicate during a school closure or emergency.
Ensuring safe schools. At Ukiah Unified, we strive to create a positive campus culture so kids come to school every day, love school, and feel supported and safe. Every student, parent, and staff member should feel comfortable letting us know when something is not right. It is key that parents, students, staff, and the community work together to make sure our schools are safe. Please have conversations with your children about school safety, and consider monitoring your child’s social media activities. Viewing interactions on social media may enable you to identify instances of potential violence and other concerning behavior like bullying. We want to create an environment where students, staff, and parents report any safety concerns to us. If you see or know something, say something.
Here are some of the major things we do to help ensure safe schools:
- We teach students the Run Hide Fight Method, the Department of Homeland Security’s preferred method, to prepare students and staff for the unthinkable active shooter scenario. We have drills using the Run Hide Fight method so students can practice.
- Our partnerships with law enforcement are strong, and we employ a full-time School Resource Officer through the Ukiah Police Department and offer a gang prevention program through the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department and Probation.
- Each school has its own Comprehensive School Safety Plan, which is designed to address campus risks, prepare for emergencies, and create a safe, secure learning environment for students and school personnel. The plans are updated yearly.
- The number of campus supervisors at Ukiah Unified schools has increased, including adding campus supervisors at our elementary schools this year.
- We’ve increased the number of social-emotional counselors because we know kids need additional support. We now have 15 social-emotional counselors.
- Ukiah Unified schools participate in Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) programs. Each school has a unique PBIS program that encourages positive behavior, like Yokayo’s Character Counts or Grace Hudson’s three rules, Be responsible/Ser responsable, Be respectful/Ser respetuoso, and Be Safe/Ser seguro.
- Restorative Justice classrooms are being used at middle and high schools. If appropriate, instead of suspension or expulsion, restorative justice uses an approach to repair harm and relationships by providing the opportunity for students to make amends in the aftermath of an incident.
- Safe School Ambassadors programs are beginning in our middle and high schools. These programs work hand in hand with restorative practices and educate student leaders with the skills to prevent and reduce bullying. These Ambassadors are key in positively impacting the school climate.
- Student activities and clubs are a popular and great way to keep kids involved and engaged with their peers.
- Secondary schools at Ukiah Unified have WEB Leaders or LINK Crew programs to support student transitions to middle and high school and build student leadership.
- CrisisGo safety and emergency software is used by each Ukiah Unified school which allows staff and first responders to internally alert each other, communicate, and coordinate during an emergency. The software is installed on staff computers, Chromebooks, and mobile devices, uniting all stakeholders during an emergency through one virtual command center. Each school has had drills using CrisisGo.
- Every student’s Chromebook has a link to report unsafe or concerning situations. If your student does not know where this link is or how to use it, please reach out to your child’s school for assistance.
- Ukiah Unified classrooms have locks allowing rooms to be locked from the inside.
- We are in the process of installing more security fencing at all of our schools. You will see much of it in the summer of 2023.
Communication during school closures or emergency School emergencies can elicit fear in students and ourselves, which compounds our immediate need for information. Ukiah Unified is committed to providing open, transparent, and accurate information as quickly as possible. We always strive to do this, especially during a school emergency. In situations like these, it is often impossible to communicate immediately because the staff’s first concern is student safety. In a lockdown involving law enforcement and first responders, our priority is to secure our students first. When we have done so, and through careful consideration of all the facts, we will then communicate with parents. Please click here to learn more about emergency communications.
Help Us Contact You During An Emergency We must be able to contact parents and guardians during an emergency, so please log in to the Aeries Parent Portal and update your information if you haven’t recently done so. If you need help or access to a computer, please call your child’s school, and they will assist you.
Click here to view Social-Emotional Support & Mental Health Resources for Families.
I appreciate all you do to support your child’s education. If you need assistance, please reach out to your child’s school.