California Community Colleges Chancellor and Director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Release Joint Letter Emphasizing Importance of Reviewing School Safety Procedures

March 05, 2018

Paige Marlatt Dorr

Office: 916.327.5356

Cell: 916.601.8005

Office E-mail: pdorr@cccco.edu

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci today released a joint letter to campuses and emergency management officials across the state emphasizing the importance of reviewing school safety procedures and socializing those plans.

A Message from California’s Top Homeland Security Advisor and Chancellor of California Community Colleges

No words can adequately express the overwhelming grief that we are all feeling after the violent tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of innocent lives and the valiant efforts of students, teachers, school leaders and public safety professionals to protect them. We are continuing to keep the families and loved ones of those lost in our prayers.

In the wake of every tragedy, there is an opportunity for reflection and growth. As leaders for California’s public instruction and homeland security, we want to reassure everyone in our education community that the safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our highest priority.

We are writing to you today to again emphasize the importance of taking the time to talk with your staff and leadership about school safety in light of this tragic event. Regardless of what motivated the shooting in Florida, it’s important for all of us to take another close look at the safety plans and security procedures we have in place to reduce the risks on our campuses, housing facilities and in our workplaces.

We know that many of you are already working closely with your school leadership, safety teams and local, state or federal law enforcement agencies to ensure that you are maintaining the safest learning environments possible. We deeply thank you for keeping safety a top priority. Through your combined efforts, many of you are exemplary leaders of safety planning and preparedness. Also, remember to share any best practices you’ve established or experiences with your colleagues in the education community.

Whether it’s a review of your security procedures or special outreach to teachers, faculty, parents and staff, any steps you can take now to be prepared for any emergency are extremely important.

The need for continual communication, coordination and review of emergency procedures and facilitating exercises cannot be overstated. Some of the most shocking plots to do harm to our schools and communities have been thwarted by simple actions of alert and prepared individuals.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has compiled a wide range of federal, state and local resources to help you. These are starting points to help find best practices in school safety and preparedness. You can find these resources here or on the Cal OES website.

Thank you for your continued dedication to educational excellence and the safety of all California’s staff, students and parents.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 72 districts and 114 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; degree and certificate pathways; and basic skills education in English and math. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.