Student and School Safety
School Safety
Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all students and staff. We collaborate closely with local agencies, including Tulare County Sheriff Department, Tulare County Fire Departments, emergency medical services, and public health officials, to be thoroughly prepared and protect our children in any emergency situation.
In the event of an emergency, school officials and emergency responders will prioritize securing the facility to ensure student safety. Following this, we will provide parents with accurate and complete information. Please refer to the "What Parents Need to Know" section below for further details specific to parents and guardians.
Security Initiatives at COJUSD
Safe School Plans
Every school has a Safe School Plan that is updated annually and practiced regularly to ensure employees and students know their role in the event of an emergency. All classroom doors are locked during school hours.
School Resource Officers
Cutler-Orosi has partnered up with Tulare County Sheriff Department to provide 2 School Resource Officers throughout the district. The SRO’s help maintain safety and security while developing and mentoring students.
School Safety Personnel
Each school site has campus security to monitor and supervise students during the school day.
ActVnet
ActVnet is a platform designed to enhance school safety by facilitating real-time communication and coordination between schools and first responders during emergencies. This program allows schools to share crucial site information and provide law enforcement with real-time access to live camera feeds, ensuring improved emergency response time.
Regular Drills & Training
Safety plans and procedures are practiced regularly by students and staff. Staff also participate in periodic training with law enforcement.
Check-In Procedures
Staff are required to wear Staff ID badges while on campus. Visitors must check-in at the front office and are issued visible visitor passes.
Communication System
All sites and district departments use a web and app based system to send communications out to parents. School sites also use two-way radios to communicate throughout the day.
Reporting
School sites use SAY SOMETHING so all students can anonymously report warning signs or threats.
What Parents Need to Know
In the event of an emergency, school officials and emergency responders at Cutler Orosi JUSD will prioritize securing the facility to ensure the safety of students and staff. Once safety is assured, we will work to provide parents with accurate and complete information.
If parents hear about an emergency from their student before receiving official communication from the school, please understand that our staff's first responsibility is to secure everyone's safety. Communication to parents will follow promptly.
The District will use its automated phone system, emails, district and school websites, media, and text messages to keep parents informed. To ensure you receive timely updates, please maintain current contact information on file with your child’s school.
In cases where the situation necessitates parents leaving their home or workplace, we will either ask parents to pick up their child or direct them to a specific location for updates. For the safety of everyone involved, please wait for further instructions and only go to the school during a lockdown or shelter-in-place if specifically instructed to do so.
Terms Parents Should Know
Lockdown
During a lockdown all school exterior and interior doors are locked, and students are confined to their classrooms because of a threat or potential threat inside the building or on the school campus. No entry or exit of the school is allowed.
Shelter-In-Place
Shelter-In-Place is used when there may be the potential for harm from hazardous materials, extreme weather, or the need to medically transport staff or students. During a shelter-in-place situation, students are not allowed to leave, and instruction continues as usual. Students will be brought indoors, accounted for, and movement around campus will be limited.
Evacuation
Evacuation means that students and staff must leave the school building and move to a safe location. When necessary, buses will move students. In the event of an evacuation, parents will be notified via the District’s messaging system where they may pick up their children. Children will be released to parents only after proper ID has been verified.
