Superintendent outlines safety upgrades after threat and asks board to explore pool repairs with remaining bond funds

In his superintendent’s report, Joel reviewed a recent threat that prompted a temporary move to synchronous learning and detailed several safety upgrades the district has adopted, and asked for board support to explore repairs to the school pool using remaining bond funds.

Joel said the district responded conservatively after an FBI recommendation to close school and praised staff and first responders for coordinated emergency planning. "We are pursuing some educational activities to help students become more aware that their decisions can have lasting effects," he said, describing disciplinary processes that can involve law enforcement and juvenile probation when necessary.

Joel listed several safety measures already in place or near completion: crisis teams trained to respond to medical emergencies, AEDs under a "Heart Safe" initiative, a Syntegix system with strobes throughout the school for emergency responses, and application of 3M shatter‑resistant film to windows. He noted the film lengthens the time required to breach a window: "If somebody had a sledgehammer... it would take them 10 to 15 minutes to get through that window with this film," he said. Joel added the district’s App2G messaging system can reach about 8,500 contacts within minutes.

Turning to facilities, Joel said bids for the 400‑wing arrived significantly under budget, freeing bond capacity that could be applied to other district needs. He asked board support to explore design and engineering options to address longstanding mechanical and locker‑room issues at the district pool and to evaluate whether that work could overlap with the 400‑wing schedule. "My hope would be that we find ourselves in a situation completing that project in conjunction or at the same time as the 400 project," Joel said, while acknowledging details and final costs are not yet known.

Board members voiced general support for staff to continue exploratory work; Joel said he would continue vendor outreach and present options once assessments are available.