Dear Belmont-Redwood Shores Community,
 
Yesterday’s tragic shooting reminded us all of how precious life is and the challenges we face as a society. We join in mourning the students and staff who lost their lives in yesterday’s senseless shooting at Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. I thought that this would be an appropriate occasion for me to share some resources for you and outline our approach to student safety.
 
Regarding resources for parents and school personnel, the National Association of School Psychologists is a reputable non-profit organization that has a helpful article, Talking to Children About Violence . Additionally, here is a link to numerous County resources to help address mental health, substance abuse, and other forms of family emergencies.    
 
Regarding our approach to safety, I first want you to know that student safety is paramount in our school district. We take seriously our responsibility as professional educators to act in loco parentis (in place of parents) while students are in our care. We use District programs, training practices, and partnerships with other agencies to ensure student safety.
 
District Programs
We have the following District staff and programs in place to support safety and wellness:
  • BRSSD has both a behavioral team and a mental health team to consult when parents or staff have concerns about individual students.
  • We have a districtwide wellness program to promote a culture of physical, behavioral and mental health, including a full-time wellness lead, Beth Boldt, funded by a generous grant from the Sequoia Healthcare District. Beth’s most recent newsletter can be found here.
  • We have implemented a districtwide social-emotional learning curriculum, Second Step, in grades TK-8 beginning in 2015.
  • We provide intervention for academic, behavioral, and social/emotional needs through Student Study Teams led by principals.
 
Training Practices
  • All schools follow the Big Five protocol. Posters outlining the protocol are visible throughout schools and supported with regular emergency drills. Specifically, lockdown/barricade drills are done twice a year at school sites.
  • We provide an annual districtwide emergency drill for all District staff that covers the Big Five protocol, with the support and attendance of County staff and local police. Additionally, a District safety leadership team attends an annual Big Five training, led by the County Office of Education with the support of local law enforcement and County agencies.  
  • This past fall, all school psychologists, counselors and administrators (including me) were trained in the County’s Threat and Risk Assessment Protocol, with an in-depth follow-up training during our January 8 staff development day for the District’s school psychologists, counselors, and mental health therapists. 

Inter-Agency Partnerships
We benefit from strong, proactive and positive relationships with County agencies and local law enforcement:  
  • Both the Belmont Police Department and Redwood City Police Department have excellent working relationships with our elementary schools and provide trained officers for safety programs in fifth grade districtwide. The Belmont Police has two full-time School Resource Officers to support school safety, including for upper grades students at Nesbit School (K-8), Ralston Middle School, and Carlmont High School.
  • The San Mateo County Office of Education has senior-level staff devoted to student safety and wellness. This staff organizes trainings and provides support to school districts, including ours.
  • The San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services organization provides both training and direct student support in our school district.  
  • The San Mateo County Counsel’s office (legal department) has facilitated information sharing agreements between County agencies, law enforcement, and school districts to promote cooperation and communication in support of student safety.
 
We all share collective responsibility to keep our children safe. Yesterday’s events are tragic, and I think we are all concerned about the societal conditions surrounding school shootings. Know that we see your student as our student as well, and we are committed to ensuring safe schools for everyone.    
 
Don’t hesitate to reach out to me or your school principal if you have questions, suggestions, or concerns.

Sincerely,

Michael Milliken, Ph.D.
Superintendent