Creating a Safe and Welcoming Environment for All Students, Families and Educators

by DR. ED MANANSALA

In El Dorado County, we desire to establish one of the fi nest education systems in California and the nation. Creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students is a foundational belief and aspiration. is spring, representatives from El Dorado County education, law enforcement, and Health and Human Services gathered for training on a new threat assessment model used as a best practice for preventing pathways to violence in schools.

e training occurred at the El Dorado County Probation Department and was opened by Carey Buchanan, El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE) director of Alternative Programs. She says, “ ere are many people in this county championing this work around student threat assessment, with a collective vision and commitment to prevention.” e comprehensive training was provided by Dave Okada from Sigma reat Management Associates and brings teams through a step-by-step process of identifying a student who is a possible threat to themselves or others, assessing the threat level and identifying the next steps. Supports are provided on a continuum from prevention to crisis intervention. Ongoing training will be provided to schools, districts and law enforcement partners.

El Dorado County Sheriff, Jeff Leikauf says, “ is (model) fits into our vision statement of a modern approach. We need to be the tip of the spear, so to speak, and we need to use technology and partnerships in the sharing of information to keep our community safe. Whatever we can do to protect our community, we should be doing that. We are better together.”

District Attorney Vern Pierson says, “For the last several years, key leaders have worked at the executive level to get to this point. It’s another significant step in the process. e idea here is to avoid bad things from happening through collaboration, open communication and prevention.” is model will be implemented in our schools and is critical in ensuring every student, family, and community member is safe and feels a sense of care at every El Dorado County school.