School Safety & Wellness
Bellflower Unified School District has taken a holistic approach to provide a safe and supportive learning environment. The District has established a mental model which demonstrates a variety of support and safety measures that are in place within the Bellflower Unified School District.
BUSD Mental Model
Student & Parent Engagement:
- Student Engagement
- Student Assemblies/Guest Speakers
- Substance Prevention
- Safety Drills
- Student Ambassadors/Peer Mentors (Exploration Phase)
- Parent Engagement
- Parent Workshops
Multi-Tier System of Support:
- Behavior
- PBIS
- Bullying Prevention
- Mental Wellness
- Social Emotional Learning
- Counseling Services
- Risk & Threat Screening
- Health & Wellness
- Health Care Plans
- Outside Referrals
- Wellness Centers
Safety Measures:
- Emergency Response Procedures
- Safety Drills
- Active Shooter Training
- PA System for Communication
- Radio System
- Emergency Bins
- Campus Cameras
- Canine Detection
- Visitor Management System
Partners:
- LACOE Community School Initiative (BHS/MHS)
- Community Family Guidance
- LA CADA
- LA County Sheriff's Department
- Caring Connections
- Think Together/YMCA
- 24 Defender
- PTA
Safety Measure Enhancements Summary
Bellflower Unified School District (BUSD) holds the safety of our students and staff in the highest regard. As such, we work collaboratively to establish procedures and guidelines to support those efforts. These efforts include maintaining closed campuses, monitoring visitors to our sites, establishing guidelines for student behavior, working collaboratively with all stakeholders to maintain open communication, developing school safety plans with the guidance of law enforcement, and practicing emergency procedures. Safety Plans are developed and reviewed annually. All plans are developed through collaboration with school stakeholders and reviewed by law enforcement. Site walkthroughs with Law Enforcement are done to ensure our school sites are as safe as possible. As a team we can work together to keep our students and staff safe while at school. If you have questions about your student’s individual school safety plan please contact the school site for more information.
Enhanced Security Protocols:
We have strengthened our security protocols to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to the school premises. This includes an improved visitor management system.
Collaboration with Local Authorities:
We maintain a strong partnership with local law enforcement and emergency services to ensure a rapid response in case of any security-related incidents. Each site had a campus walkthrough with 24 Defender and engaged in safety conversations and suggestions to improve the safety of our school sites.
Establish common language for safety drills and processes:
BUSD has partnered with 24 Defender to provide training and identify common language to use during safety drills. The common language has been transferred to posters and provided to each classroom, office, and building across the district.
Student Awareness Programs:
We have initiated programs to educate students about personal safety, responsible behavior, and the importance of reporting any concerns to school authorities. School sites have held assemblies with Interquest Detection Canines, anti-bullying, drug prevention partners, and school safety.
Communication and Alert Systems:
We have upgraded our communication and alert systems to ensure that parents and guardians can be promptly informed of any emergency or important information. The Public Address System (or PA System) has been upgraded at all school sites, the district office, and all other BUSD sites. This system allows us to communicate clearly and quickly, use different sounds for different incidents, and send messages to classrooms via text during emergencies as needed.
Implement canine detection:
The district has partnered with Interquest Canine Detection in our continuing effort to provide a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff. This company provides trained detection canines to minimize the presence of prohibited items on campus. These canines are certified, reliable detection dogs that are non-aggressive, friendly, and approachable. They make periodic visits to each secondary school in the district on an unannounced basis throughout the school year. The canines are trained to detect illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages, and gunpowder-based items, including guns and commonly abused medications. Items found are processed in accordance with school policy.
Implement more education on lockdown drills for parents and students:
We have partnered with 24 Defender to offer Parent workshops in both English and Spanish to share with the community how BUSD and staff are preparing for a critical incident. Topics covered have been Mindset, Behavior, Run-Hide-Fight, Post Incident, and Stop the Bleed Training.