Our nation has seen too many incidents of tragic and frightening violence in our public schools. Keeping students and staff safe and providing a solid instructional environment is our district’s top priority.
At HJUHSD, we have safety practices in place to help protect our students from physical harm and to foster a healthy, productive environment for them everyday. We review these policies and procedures regularly to ensure our schools are among the safest places they can be. These protocols include:
- Controlled Access: Perimeter fencing is in place around all campuses and all exterior gates remained locked and monitored during school hours.
- Visitor Registration: All school visitors must enter through the school office and register with school safety staff before gaining access to school grounds.
- Identification Badges: All district staff and guests must wear district ID badges at all times on school grounds.
- Video Cameras: Digital cameras monitor and record activity throughout our campuses. This helps staff and law enforcement deter and investigate vandalism, theft, fights or other dangerous or criminal activities in and around our schools.
- School Resource Officers: Our district has a strong partnership with the Hanford Police Department. Specially trained HPD officers are assigned to our schools to provide security, perform safety duties, and investigate student safety issues.
- Tip Lines: Tip lines allow anyone to call or text to alert authorities about potential issues.
- HH: 583-7877 (PUPS)
- HW: 584-4947 (HWHS)
- SP: 640-7447
- EF: 582-1515
- Emergency Training and Safety Drills: Regular safety drills ensure our students and staff know what to do in the event of an emergency. Drills include but are not limited to: Evacuation, Shelter-in-Place, Lockdown, and Drop, Cover, and Hold.
- School Safety Plan: Each School has a thorough Safety Plan in place that is reviewed and updated regularly. These plans encompass many issues designed to prevent and prepare for a variety of emergency events. School safety teams discuss these issues throughout the year to be prepared to respond in a timely and accurate manner should the need arise.
- Counseling and Mental Health Support: School counselors and psychologists and local health agencies are available for students struggling with personal issues and strive to support the health and safety of all students.
- Crisis Communications: The district has a robust communications plan in place to ensure key staff are informed of an emergency situation. In turn, parents and other stakeholders can be informed quickly via phone, email and social media of any information about emergencies or credible threats to student safety. Our goal is to quickly and accurately communicate essential information to first responders, district staff, students, parents and community members as needed to ensure student safety throughout any emergency. Be assured that if we have any information about safety issues or even credible potential concerns, we will communicate those with our staff and parents as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
Even with all the above measures, school safety is community effort. I encourage all of our students, staff, parents and community members to report any safety concerns to school administration or local law enforcement.
I welcome your ideas, questions or concerns you may have regarding school safety or emergency preparedness.
Thank you,
William L. Fishbough
Superintendent
Hanford Joint Union High School District
