Santee School District is taking a closer look at campus safety through a partnership with Safe and Sound Schools, a national nonprofit founded by parents who lost children in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
District officials said the collaboration is part of an ongoing effort to evaluate school safety beyond physical security measures and to examine how emergency preparedness, communication, and student well-being work together across school sites.
Over the past several years, the district has invested heavily in campus security infrastructure. Recently, district and school leaders met with representatives from Safe and Sound Schools, city officials, the sheriff’s department, the fire department, parents, and other community members to discuss current safety practices and next steps.
Safe and Sound Schools uses what the district described as a “comprehensive, research-based six-pillar framework to review and evaluate school safety.”
The framework examines mental and behavioral health; health and wellness; safety and security; culture, climate, and community; leadership, law, and policy; and operations and emergency management.
“During the walkthroughs, Safe and Sound Schools representatives meet with site administrators to review current practices and protocols within each pillar,” the district said.
“The team also toured each campus to observe existing security measures and operational procedures in action, helping identify strengths as well as opportunities for enhancement.”
District officials said the nonprofit’s approach complements existing safety protocols already in place.
“The district and Safe and Sound Schools share the same goal: creating safe, secure environments where students can learn and thrive,” the district said. “The Safe and Sound team was very impressed with the strong safety measures already in place across our district, noting that many recommendations they typically make are already being implemented.”
Recent investments cited by the district include an integrated security system with strategically placed cameras, monitoring software, and cloud-based video archiving.
The district has also installed an advanced alarm and speaker notification system that activates strobe lights, digital displays, desktop alerts, intercoms, and camera feeds during emergencies.
Other measures include a staff and visitor badge system with digital mapping, real-time locating capabilities, wearable panic buttons, and visitor management and reunification tools, along with internal locking mechanisms installed in classrooms and throughout school campuses.
According to the district, families have generally responded positively to the increased security measures.
“What we consistently hear from families is that our safety features are reassuring rather than unwelcoming,” the district said. “When we teach, practice, and communicate clearly about safety, we build trust.”
Community feedback shared during meetings this week focused on communication and coordination, district officials said.
Over the coming months, district leadership will review site-specific reports prepared by Safe and Sound Schools and determine next steps.
