2022-2023 San Joaquin Civil Grand Jury Releases report on School Safety in San Joaquin County

Stockton, CA — Today, the 2022–2023 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury released its report investigating school safety in San Joaquin County. The Grand Jury cited recent events in San Joaquin County and elsewhere that raised the question of whether schools in the County were taking appropriate steps to protect students and staff.

Rather than focusing its investigation on one type of school safety threat, such as school shootings, or on school safety planning at a single school or district in the County, the Grand Jury concluded it would best serve San Joaquin County residents to review emergency preparedness planning for threats across the school safety continuum. The Grand Jury evaluated school safety planning from a layperson’s perspective by measuring each district’s preparedness against best practices identified through research and expert testimony. The Grand Jury’s report shares with the public the results of that evaluation.

Through multiple interviews, site visits, and expert witness testimony, the Grand Jury found that while many protocols have been established in the County, there is no unified approach to school safety. Instead, safety planning often consists of a patchwork of policies and procedures, and many of the Comprehensive School Safety Plans (CSSPs) required by law are boilerplate documents that are rarely specific to individual school sites. The Grand Jury reported that schools in San Joaquin County are safer because of recent efforts by school districts, but more can be done. The Grand Jury’s recommendations include, but are not limited to:

• The San Joaquin County Office of Education and the San Joaquin County Office of Education Board of Trustees develop, adopt, and host an annual School Safety Summit.
• School districts create more opportunities for meaningful involvement by parents, students, and staff in safety planning efforts.
• Law enforcement be more involved in the development, implementation, and annual updates of the CSSP, including participation in safety training and drills, building relationships with students and staff, and helping to create a culture of safety.
• Each school site’s CSSPs account for dangers unique to the specific school site (e.g., train tracks, flooding, freeways).
• Safety drills be conducted on different days throughout the school year and at various times during the school day.
• All school sites post flip charts or similar summaries of emergency procedures in all classrooms and common areas.

The public is encouraged to read the complete report by visiting the Grand Jury’s website.

2022-2023 San Joaquin Civil Grand Jury Releases report on School Safety in San Joaquin County (PDF)