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School Safety

Overview
Campus safety is the district's top priority. Teachers, support staff, school police services and community organizations work together to prevent, prepare and respond to emergency situations.

To ensure safety and security:
  • Each school's staff review and update an individual Safe School Plan, a state-mandated emergency response plan.
  • School staff participate in regular emergency preparedness and response training.
  • Substance abuse prevention programs are presented to students regularly.
  • All students learn about gun safety through the Day of National Concern.
  • School Police officers train regularly to respond effectively to any situation.
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Getting To and From School Safely
To ensure maximum safety for all students, the San Diego Unified School District suggests students and parents abide by the following guidelines set by the National Safe Kids Campaign.

Walking to School
Pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children ages 5-14.

To avoid injury:

  • Never let children under age 10 cross the street alone.
  • Teach children to recognize and obey traffic signals and pavement markings.
  • Choose the safest route between home and school and practice walking it with children until they can demonstrate traffic safety awareness.

Remind kids to:
  • Cross streets only in crosswalks; never enter streets from between parked cars or from behind shrubbery.
  • Always look both ways before crossing the street.
  • Walk—don't run—across intersections.
  • A flashing "walk" signal does not mean it's safe to cross.
  • Use the same route every day and avoid shortcuts.
  • Don't speak to strangers; if a stranger approaches, tell a trusted adult such as a parent or teacher.

Riding the Bus
More than 22,000 district students take the bus each day. Although bus travel is one of the safest ways to get to and from school, injuries can still occur, and most of them take place when children are getting on or off the bus.

Some safety tips for riding the bus are:
  • Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus.
  • Stay out of the street and don't horseplay while waiting.
  • Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before getting on or off.
  • Remain seated and keep head and arms inside the bus at all times.
  • Do not shout or distract the driver.
  • Do not walk in the driver's "blind spot"--the area from the front of the bus to about 10 feet in front of the bus.

Riding Bicycles
Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the car.

To make sure children are safe when riding bicycles to school:
  • Check with your school principal to make sure bicycles are allowed. Some schools do not allow them.
  • Wear a helmet! State law requires it, and failure to wear one could result in a traffic citation. More importantly, helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.
  • Obey rules of the road; the rules are the same for all vehicles, including bicycles.
  • Stay on the right-hand side of the road and ride in the same direction as traffic.
  • Know and use appropriate hand signals.
  • Choose the safest route between home and school and practice it with children until they can demonstrate traffic safety awareness.

Driving
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children age 14 and under.

To reduce the risk of injury:
  • Always use child safety seats and safety belts correctly when driving or riding in a car.
  • Arrive early—especially the first few weeks of school—and use the school's designated student drop-off and pick-up zone.
  • Do not double park or make u-turns in front of the school. Police officers are issuing citations for traffic violations and there is no warning or grace period.
  • Children should enter and leave the car on its curb side.
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School
The district's School Police works with the San Diego Police Department, State and Federal law enforcement, and other emergency response agencies to ensure school site security and student safety.

Learn more:

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Zero Tolerance for Weapons, Drugs & Violence
The district's Zero Tolerance policy applies to middle, junior and senior high school students. The policy requires suspension or expulsion for students who violate rules related to weapons, controlled substances or violence.

Learn more:

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Emergency Lockdown Procedure
If an emergency situation occuring in the vicinity of a school threatens student safety, the school may be placed under "lockdown." During a lockdown, all school doors and windows are locked and all students and staff remain in their classrooms or offices. No one is permitted to leave and no one, including parents, is allowed on campus.

Although such measures may seem extreme, they have proven effective in ensuring student safety. In fact, in an emergency, school is one of the safest places your child can be. Whenever a threat arises, schools are the focus of heightened attention from School Police and local authorities.

Should a lockdown occur, parents are asked to remain calm as school and local authorities manage the situation. If it appears the lockdown will last for an extended period of time, or go beyond dismissal time, school staff will attempt to notify parents by phone, as students will not be allowed to leave until recommended by the appropriate authorities.

Parents may be required to pick children up from school or another designated safe area, once it is determined to be safe to do so. To further ensure student safety, parents may be required to present identification. The reunification location will be given to parents over the phone if possible, and will always be publicized to the media. School officials will also work with the district's transportation department regarding bus transport.

>> Emergency Lockdown Procedures Fact Sheet: English | Spanish 

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