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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportCollaborative Efforts Between the City of National City and National City Schools At the January 15, 2013 City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Natividad requested the City Council consider the formation of a Health & Safety Committee to coordinate efforts to ensure our schools are safe and secure. If created, the Committee could include representatives from our schools, health care, public safety and other city departments. The City Council requested that staff return with information on current City programs, operations, training and collaborative efforts that we are currently engaged in with National City local schools, with an emphasis on health and safety measures. This report summarizes some of the on -going programs, operations, planning and training regarding school safety. POLICE School safety has always been a primary concern for the National City Police Department. The Police Department established school crisis plans over 10 years ago. These plans provide police officers and school staff pre -planned guidelines for operations should an emergency occur. These detailed plans cover the following: • Critical Incident Plan Format for Schools and Law Enforcement Incident Command System (ICS). • Active Shooter response training outline • National City Police Department's Response plan • Response plan -quick reference check list and emergency phone numbers • School evacuation sites • List of City resources available • Standardized Emergency Management System Manual including Incident Command and law enforcement command systems. • Additional Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and Law Enforcement Incident Command System (LEICS) worksheets School Resource Officers - Two School Resource Officers (SRO's) are assigned full time to the schools to provide police services to the Sweetwater Union High School District and the National School District. School Resource Officers provide specialized campus security and general law enforcement services to the public schools located in National City. Active Shooter Drills - The Police Department collaborates with both the National School District and Sweetwater Union High School District to conduct "active shooter" drills. The drills involve school staff and students and are incorporated into the curriculum similar to earthquake and fire drills. Active Shooter Training - Officers are trained on responding to a school during an active shooter incident. These practical exercises are designed for field officers who would respond in the field. Regional Officer Training (ROT) - A County -wide protocol has been established on how to respond to an active shooter incident. Officers also attend a refresher course every two years and receive updates on the latest tactics. Officers from various agencies complete this tactical training using the county -wide protocol. Traffic Enforcement - Motor Officers and Patrol Officers regularly monitor school traffic during both morning and afternoon sessions. Adopt -a -School Program — All squad in the Police Department participate in the "Adopt - a -School" program. The officers are encouraged to meet with the staff, familiarize themselves with the school layout, attend events and conduct routine visits as time permits. SWAT Training — SWAT officers train at the schools to improve their familiarization and efficiency during a major school incident. The Police Department is using SWAT team members to coordinate a drill in conjunction with the Fire Department and American Medical Response (AMR) to practice responding to a major crisis at a school. The training will involve all three departments, along with school officials, working in unison to address a major school crisis. "Every 15 Minutes"- Police officers are working with the Fire Department and school officials to teach Sweetwater District students about the dangers associated with under- age drinking and driving. Law Enforcement Collaborative Efforts — The National City Police Department is collaborating with other police agencies to ensure our officers are using the latest tactics and training in school safety and crisis response. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) — The Police Department, City Engineer and other City departments routinely meet with School District Superintendents and their staff to discuss ways to improve school safety. FIRE Fire Safety Inspections - Fire inspections are provided annually to ten grade schools, one charter school, two junior high schools, two high schools and one private school. Safe School Annual Award — An award is presented to the school with the least amount of violations accumulated during annual fire inspections. Fire Science Classroom Support — As a member of the ROP advisory board, National City's Fire Marshal provides direction on ROP Fire Science programs conducted at Sweetwater and Mar Vista High Schools. Emergency Preparedness Drills — Per California Fire Code, emergency drills are conducted by all of the schools and tracked by the National City Fire Department. Fire drills are conducted monthly and earthquake preparedness drills are conducted quarterly. Career Fairs — The Director of Emergency Services and Fire Marshal routinely attend annual career fairs at both National City Middle School and Granger Junior School High to speak about career opportunities in the fire service and demonstrate fire equipment. Junior Achievement Program - Junior Achievement empowers young people to own their economic success. The Director of Emergency Services and Fire Marshal volunteer their time to teach 3rd - 6th graders entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills. Building and Development — The National City Fire Marshal works with the Division of the State Architect on building and construction at schools in the City as well as collaborates with engineers from the State on future building and development. ENGINEERING Safe Routes to School Program Summary Approximately eight years ago, at the request of concerned parents, the City of National City partnered with the National School District, Sweetwater Union High School District, school principals, parents, volunteers and Community organizations to create a Safe Routes to School Program Task Force. The initial goal of the Task Force was to identify barriers between school zones and feeder neighborhoods that precluded many children from walking to school. These meetings provided direction for City engineers and planners to collect data, perform site evaluations and develop projects to create safe walking corridors. Also through participation on the Task Force, the National City Police Department was able to identify high priority locations for school zone traffic enforcement. Through these longstanding partnerships, the City of National City has been successful in receiving approximately $4 million in competitive grant funding over the past five years to provide much needed safety enhancements for children walking to school. Types of safety enhancements include in -roadway warning lights at crosswalks, flashing beacons, radar speed feedback signs, traffic calming bulb -outs and pedestrian refuge islands at school crosswalks, new sidewalks and ADA curb ramps, and enhanced school zone signing and striping. In addition, grant funding has been used to provide outreach, education and training for students and parents to encourage more families to participate in walk to school activities. The program helps parents and students learn about laws that protect them as bicyclists and pedestrians and infrastructure such as crosswalks, caution lighting and 5 speed signs. It also helps remind police officers of pedestrian and bicyclist rights. Student safety patrols are a great resource to help spread the message to others. LIBRARY WINGS Program - "WINGS:Winners Growing Strong" is an extended school day child care and educational program, funded by the After School Education and Safety (ASES) grant and operated by the National City Public Library who acts as the primary provider of the before, after -school, and summer day camp activities at the ten elementary schools in the National School District. Awarded the 2011 Golden Bell Award in the category of Partnerships and Collaboratives, WINGS illustrates the most beneficial and fruitful partnership between the National School District (NSD), the National City Public Library (NCPL), and other contractors that collaborate in the WINGS programming. The WINGS Program is a unique set-up that offers K to 6th grade students a safe, healthy, recreational and educational haven outside of school hours. National City Public Library facilitates the program and runs the academic theme stations, including literacy, math, science, social studies, and wellness activities. Intervention classes targeting students requiring remedial attention are conducted by NSD school day teachers. Recreational activities, including chess, social dance, drama, scrap -booking, ecology, music, visual art, golf, karate, and sports are provided by professionals contracted by NSD. To create an environment that is conducive to learning, the National City Public Library deploys all resources at its disposal to ensure the health and safety of the children entrusted to its care. Safety, Health and Emergency Procedures - Safety is a critical element of the Program. All safety rules and emergency procedures followed during the school day apply to the Program. 1. Since the Program is held on school premises, it avails of existing security measures already in place at the sites. Most school sites have their gates locked until it is time for parents to pick up their children; access or entry to the main campus has to be obtained through or authorized by the school office. Pick-up time varies from early pick-up at 4:45 pm to regular end -of -day pickup at 6:00 pm. 2. Students are not released until a parent/guardian or authorized emergency contact listed in the enrollment form is present to sign them out. To avoid releasing a child to unauthorized persons, identification is required. In the event that another designated adult is picking up the child, there must be a parent's authorization note sent in that morning. Parent/guardian signature is required every day on the sign -out record log. 3. At each of the schools sites, WINGS staff has access to the emergency contact cards and medical release forms filled out and signed by parents/legal guardians. 4. A Medical Treatment Release form is obtained for each child enrolled in WINGS. The form identifies the child's allergies; physical disabilities or disorders that may limit their activities; and medications currently taking. 5. WINGS employees are fully trained in First Aid/CPR. In addition, they are trained by the NSD Health Team on how to use the Epi-pen and asthma inhaler as well as different 911 scenarios. HUMAN RESOURCES Student Interns — The Human Resources Department is working with the Sweetwater High School District to provide students with intern opportunities in various City departments. The Department is also working with the District to provide opportunities for students seeking community service hours in compliance with school district graduation requirements. Conclusion: As the City Council will note from the information provided, the City is engaged in a variety of programs, operations, training and other collaborative efforts to ensure the safety of all the children remains a top priority at our schools. 5