District officials outline safety upgrades, trainings and mental‑health staffing

District staff presented a multi-part safety-and-security update focused on physical infrastructure, emergency readiness and student supports.

Jim Buffer and Matt Wayan told the board the district completed a Liberty Mutual safety audit and used state safety funds and grants to strengthen building security. Buffer said the district upgraded fire-rated doors with mag locks tied into fire panels so the doors will release when alarms trigger; the district also invested in preventative-maintenance planning. “The goal … is to provide a safe and secure learning environment,” Buffer said.

The district purchased motorized floor-scrubbing equipment with a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation grant to reduce staff injuries and improve hygiene, and it strengthened hands-on emergency training by partnering with fire and police for CPR, AED, stop-the-bleed and fire-extinguisher practice. Presenters also confirmed Narcan is stocked in cafeterias and entryways and that AEDs are available in each building and at the stadium.

On communications and monitoring, staff described a new radio system (including a channel for direct police contact) and an expanded camera network covering the school perimeter. "This has enhanced our drills and has made things so efficient," one presenter said.

The presentation emphasized cultural safety measures as well: the district runs an annual student-connection survey to identify students without a trusted adult and uses morning greeters, classroom push-in by mental-health staff, peer-led Bobcat groups and a high‑school student advisory council to increase student connections. The board heard that adding a full-time middle-school mental-health specialist and a shared high‑school specialist has allowed staff to reach more students and provide earlier support.

Board members asked specific operational questions (e.g., whether someone trained in AED use is always present at athletic events); staff replied AEDs provide step-by-step guidance and nurses are on staff. Presenters also noted cooperative exercises with local police and fire — including a bomb‑safety tabletop led by Homeland Security — and annual reviews with a district risk consultant.

The board did not take formal action; the presentation is intended to inform planning for Stevenson building work and ongoing safety investments.