We see signs of society changing rapidly nearly everywhere we look. Schools are no different, particularly in the realm of safety and security. That’s why West Clermont continues to make this a top priority.

Over the past year, we have made significant progress toward protecting our campus and its people, namely our students and staff, through physical, social-emotional, cyber, and crisis response measures. Some of our most notable achievements include:

  • Publishing a Safety Guide for families and staff
  • Conducting a student survey
  • Researching and issuing a “Talking to Your Kids About Safety and Well-being” resource from the West Clermont Citizens Advisory Commission
  • Introducing Nya, School Resource Officer Steven Siekbert’s K-9 unit, to deter drug activity within our schools and community
  • Earning grant dollars to make physical security enhancements and expand mental health services

As a result of the safety grant the district received, we added the following safety measures based on recommendations from our safety audit:

3M Safety Film:

All glass in our building’s lobbies has been wrapped with 3M safety film. This will prevent the glass from breaking out of the frame if an object penetrates the glass.

Safety Planters:

Safety planters have been added to several school entrances as an additional barrier to vehicular traffic.

Perforated Window Film:

Perforated window film will be added to certain areas of our buildings. This allows people to see out but not in.

Cameras:

Additional security cameras have been added to the outside of our buildings and cameras have been upgraded across campus where necessary. As we prepare to kick off another school year, we want to take this opportunity to remind our residents – parents and non-parents alike that it takes all of us to maintain the safety of our school community. You can help by reporting anything you hear or see that is suspicious through our anonymous reporting system available on our website at westcler.org, the Safer School Tip Line by calling or texting 844-723-3764, or contacting local law enforcement or the school principal.

We’re excited to kick off another great year of learning in an environment where students feel safe and supported.

By Natasha L. Adams, Superintendent and CEO, West Clermont School District.