Dear Shadow Hills Families,
I want to start our newsletter with a huge thank you to the Mountain View, Creekside, Shadow Hills Staff, and our incredible Alpine Sheriffs. The response and action were exactly as we had practiced. Thank you for keeping our students safe. Thank you, parents, for following the Sheriff's department's directions and our district leadership sending out up-to-date communications as quickly and safely as possible. Although we never want to have any potential dangers around campus, we can be assured that systems are in place that are effective and practiced. Please take a moment to read Dr. Newman's communication regarding security updates around AUSD:
Dear AUSD Families,
Given today's lockdown at SHES and CELC, I wanted to take a moment to share some updates regarding school safety and security. To begin with, I want to assure you that we take the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously. We commit, through regular and ongoing training, to ensure that our schools are places where students can learn and grow, free from concerns about safety.
Our District is also incredibly grateful for the close partnership with the Alpine Sheriff's Department and Alpine Fire Department. They provide constant support, guidance, training, and advice to our staff while also being readily available in times of need such as today.
Daily measures are taken to ensure our schools are safe places. Our staff also trains for a variety of crises that may be encountered including incidents such as the one that occurred today. We push out notifications through a range of social media, text, email, and our District App. I highly encourage you to download our APP from the Apple and Google Play store.
We have also made many security advancements and improvements. Cameras are installed at all entry points to each of our campuses. Automatic closures are being installed on all gates to ensure they can't remain open accidentally. All visitors are screened through our Raptor system and checked through the FBI database before being admitted to campus. Visitors must also wear badges on campus. We have updated policies and procedures and continue to coordinate with law enforcement. On Wednesday, Our Board of Trustees approved new fencing at SHES, CELC, MVLA, and BOES to fully secure the campus based on the security recommendations from our Sheriff's Department.
While it is devastating to think of a violent act being attempted in one of our schools, it is important to remember that our students, parents, and staff are our best line of defense. We rely on our ENTIRE school community to inform a school official if they are aware of any threat so it can be thoroughly investigated as we take all reports very seriously. As we often say, if you see something say something.
Lastly, I want to thank our staff today for managing the day with great professionalism and ensuring that our students who are our most precious resource remained safe, secure, and calm. This was not a drill and our Sheriff's reported that the lockdown and securing of the campus went exceptionally well.
With gratitude for everyone's safety,
Dr. Rich Newman
Proudest Superintendent on Earth
I look forward to seeing you all. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Meris
