According to the Gazette, the Woodland Park School District RE‑2 Board of Education took its first step toward a comprehensive safety overhaul during its regular meeting Wednesday night, voting to read a resolution that directs Superintendent Ginger Slocum to develop an integrated all‑hazards security and safety plan for every district public school, including the charter Merit Academy and any future charter schools.
The resolution, drafted by board director Robb Davidson, calls for a uniform set of procedures that would apply across all sites while allowing for site‑specific tailoring. It references existing guidelines from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and national organizations such as the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools, the National Association of School Resource Officers and the National Sheriffs’ Association, ensuring the plan reflects best‑practice standards.
Board President Keegan Barkley praised the “unified aspect” of the proposal, noting that consistent language and codes would help staff and first responders communicate quickly in an emergency. “So that if you call someone or get on the walkie‑talkie and you use a code, everybody knows what that means and everybody knows what a specific alarm represents,” Barkley said. She also emphasized the plan’s focus on safely reuniting students with parents regardless of which building they occupy.
When asked about preventive measures, Davidson said the plan envisions a multilayered approach that includes fostering a culture of safe schools and providing social and emotional support to students and parents. Superintendent Slocum confirmed the district has already begun proactive work, applying for state grants to bolster mental‑health services and participating in threat‑assessment trainings in recent months. “We’re starting to rebuild the pieces that were lost,” she said.
The resolution also addresses requests from Woodland Park’s local law‑enforcement agencies and opens the door for additional community partnerships. “When you start looking at that, there’s a lot of teammates in our community who already have offered to assist,” Davidson added, noting that formal collaboration plans have yet to be finalized.
During the same meeting, Schneider Electric presented two financing options for security upgrades. One option would tap existing state grant programs, while the other would use district savings from utility costs through an energy‑performance‑contracting model. Schneider Electric representative Jack Vehrenkamp said the district could fund new access controls, cameras, fencing, exterior lighting, alarms/panic buttons and security vestibules by leveraging identified savings.
The board expressed interest in the proposals and agreed to revisit the funding options at a future meeting. Residents can expect further details on the safety plan’s rollout and any associated budget decisions when the board reconvenes.
Sources: gazette.com
