How is the district addressing safety on our campuses?

In addition to a Sheriff’s deputy posted at sites throughout the District, additional law enforcement presence will be around each campus as we stabilize and make every effort to return to a sense of normalcy. There are multiple campus supervisors at each site, and district office administrators will be posted at school sites to provide their leadership with time and flexibility to address the needs of students and families.

Additionally, the Hart District employs a number of procedures programs, and strategies on a daily basis in an effort to keep students and staff safe, including:

• During morning arrival, each school has a limited number of entry points for students, with each monitored by school personnel.
• All adult visitors are funneled through the main office for check-in and check-out procedures.
• Each school has established, through its Safe Schools Plan, procedures for disaster response, lockdowns, suspension and expulsion guidelines, safe and orderly environment procedures, and bullying prevention and procedures. These plans are reviewed and updated annually by the site, and are shared with and reviewed by law enforcement and fire officials. Each school’s Safe Schools Plan is posted on the school’s website.
• The District and sites have established numerous opportunities for open lines of communication between students, staff, and community regarding safety concerns, including:
  
  • Safe School Ambassadors (students and staff who have been trained to watch for and intervene in poor behavior, bullying and threats)
  • Text-A-Tip numbers posted on each site’s website that send messages to each administrator on a campus
  • Capturing Kids’ Hearts and Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports training specifically designed to create connections between staff and students
  • ASB school unity activities
  • Regularly scheduled meetings between ASB leadership and administrators
  • Leadership training for ASB students
  • Anti-bullying curriculum in junior high schools
• The District has established a protocol to work with law enforcement in investigating and tracking social media and other threats. Students who potentially pose a threat to themselves or others are assessed by a team of experts who comprise the District’s Threat Assessment Team. Developed using resources from the FBI, the US Secret Service, and Department of Education, the protocol used by this group allows the District to determine what resources need to be directed towards the at-risk individual and may lead to the involvement of the Department of Mental Health’s School Threat Assessment and Response Team. The DMH team will track individuals throughout their lives and will provide support and/or services as needed regardless of the age or area in which the individual resides. With the increased use of social media, the schools have experienced an increase in the number of threat assessments conducted annually. All threats are taken seriously and fully investigated by the school administration and law enforcement. If the threat is deemed credible by law enforcement, an arrest will be made. Even if law enforcement determines that the threat is not credible, the District Threat Assessment Team is alerted and completes an assessment if concerns exist.
• The District employs a full team of licensed therapists and social workers to provide intensive counseling services that help diffuse aggression, address isolation and tend to mental health needs of our students and families. These therapists are assigned to each of our schools to support our regular staff comprised of school psychologists and school counselors when educationally related mental health issues arise.
• District and site administrators have been trained for crisis response by our safety consultants.
• District and site administrators have received training in NIMS (National Incident Management System), including:
  
  • ICS (Incident Command System) 100: Introduction to Incident Command System
  • ICS 200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
  • ICS 300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents

When my student(s) return to school on Monday, how will the district provide support as they process the events of November 14th?

In the next days, weeks, and beyond, the district is mounting a significant response to tend to the social-emotional well-being of our students, staff, and community.  Each school site will be staffed with additional intensive counselors while faculty, staff, and administrators will be prepared to provide students with the opportunity to seek out support throughout the school year.  Additional extended resources are provided later in this FAQ.

What is the plan to transition Saugus High students back into school?

Saugus High will have non-mandatory activities available to students and staff  on campus during the week of 11/18 - 11/22. No classes will be held during this week.  However, activities and counseling will be available on campus Wednesday from 10 a.m. -- 2 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. -- 2:00 p.m.  Students can retrieve their personal effects on Tuesday, 11/19, from 10 a.m. -- 12 p.m.

All schools in the district are closed during Thanksgiving week, 11/25 - 11/29.

What about all of the other schools in the district?  Have their schedules changed?

On Friday, 11/15, all schools in the district were closed to allow families and students time to process this event together.  Next week, the schedules at all of the schools other than Saugus High will remain the same as published on the district website.  It is important that your student has access to the counseling services offered on campus and can transition back into a regular routine.

Here is a link to the district calendar: https://www.hartdistrict.org/apps/pages/calendars

I am still not comfortable with my student returning to school on Monday.  What can I do?

Please contact us using the #SaugusStrong Contact Form and we can discuss supports and options available within the district.  We are here to serve and support all families as we go through this experience together as a community.

I need help talking to my kids and teens or I need more support beyond what is available through the school district.  Who do I call? What resources are available?

Our community is served by several available resources.  The following phone numbers will connect you with crisis lines, many of which are local:

Child and Family Center Crisis Line: 661-259-9439

Teen Line: 800-852-8336

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255

California Youth Crisis Line: 800-843-5200

Trevor Line (crisis line for LGBTQ+ youth): 800-850-8078

Olive View Mental Health Urgent Care (crisis): 818-485-0888

The following resources have been developed and recommended by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to help children and families who have experienced violent and traumatic events:

• Disaster Resource Center

• Disaster: Helping Children Cope

• News and Children

• Firearms and Children

• Children and Guns

• Caring for Kids After a School Shooting

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

• NCTSN Mass Violence Resources

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Talking about the Shooting

• Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Aftermath of a Mass Shooting: Tips for Parents and Professionals 

How do I reach out to someone at the district to answer my questions or to help me find alternative ways to address my student’s needs?

Please fill out the #SaugusStrong Contact Form that will be sent directly to our staff.  We will reach out to you and help in every way we can. Thank you for the opportunity to support you as we work together as a community and lean on each other through this difficult time

I want to donate materials or services.  Who do I contact?

Those individuals, businesses, and agencies wishing to make donations of physical product are requested to contact the following email address to reduce the burden on school staff.

saugusstrong@hartdistrict.org

• Disaster Resource Center