Pacific Grove schools highlight tighter partnership with police in districtwide safety update

The Pacific Grove Unified School District presented a comprehensive safety update on Sept. 4 that emphasized new, daily collaboration with the Pacific Grove Police Department to improve campus safety and emergency response. Superintendent Dr. Jenny Adamson and Director of Safety Barbara Martinez led the briefing with Chief Day of PGPD describing patrols, educational outreach and a rapid response role for the department.

Board members were told the partnership includes monthly site visits by the police chief, joint training exercises, increased supervision at recess and lunch at Pacific Grove Middle School, and coordinated community outreach on scooter and e‑bike safety. The district said improvements also include upgraded public‑address and fire‑alarm systems, two‑way radio repeaters, additional handheld radios for staff, fencing projects and visitor check‑in technology.

The presentation framed the approach as “community‑based prevention” that emphasizes prevention and relationship building. Martinez said staff have completed a multi‑year program of access‑control and PA upgrades and highlighted planned “quick‑start” fencing and path‑of‑travel work to address campus vulnerabilities. Chief Day said police have deployed saturation patrols at the start of the school year, responded to a traffic collision on opening day (an active investigation) and are conducting student and parent outreach such as a bike‑rack chat and assemblies on scooter safety.

Trustees asked for practical next steps: Trustee Shamas asked about signage and a protocol for notifying the district when an emergency helicopter or other outside agency uses a campus. Assistant Superintendent Jordan confirmed the district will follow up to clarify notification protocols. Trustees also discussed inviting a traffic commission member to the city‑district subcommittee that coordinates drop‑off and pick‑up changes near Robert Down Elementary.

In discussion, several trustees raised the subject of a school resource officer (SRO) contract that had been ended previously; several trustees asked that the SRO topic be returned to the board for a broader discussion that includes staffing, costs and community input. Superintendent Adamson said the matter would be taken up as part of the district’s comprehensive safety planning, noting city staffing constraints could affect timing.

The board did not take formal action on the safety update itself. Trustees directed staff to report back after the district safety committee meets, and requested a public timeline for when safety‑related funding decisions and proposals will return to the board for action.