Dear Centennial School District Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. As we continue our journey through these evolving times in education, I wanted to reach out and share with you the significant strides we've made in enhancing school safety, security, and mental health services in our district. Our staff and your children's well-being have been and always will be our utmost priority.
When I arrived at Centennial School District in 2020, our school district faced unprecedented challenges. During the past two to three years, much of our time has been spent navigating these challenges while also focusing on improving our teaching and learning programs. In June 2022, we began a concerted effort to enhance our safety and security measures, recognizing the critical importance of these areas in today's educational landscape.
Given recent events and to address any confusion and misinformation, I want to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the work we've accomplished and continue to do in Centennial to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff. (This is a follow-up to the March 2023 communication).
Safety and Security Improvements
Organizational Changes
We've strengthened our safety and security staffing model:
New Leadership: We've created and filled the Supervisor of Safety and Security position, credentialed as a School Police Officer (SPO). This administrator-level position develops and oversees district-wide centralized safety and security plans.
Upgraded Security Personnel: We've transitioned from using Security Monitors to employing trained School Security Guards (SSG). This change significantly increased the capability and professional standards of our security personnel.
Increased Staffing: We've added additional security positions (double) to our staffing model, allowing for greater coverage and quicker response times.
Specialized Training: All our School Security Officers now complete 40 hours of training to be certified as School Security Guards in compliance with ACT 67 standards.
Physical Security Enhancements
We've made substantial upgrades to our facilities:
Installed vehicle barriers around play areas that previously lacked fencing.
Added school ID badge readers at specific buildings to control access.
Updated our security systems' notification and lockdown functions.
Installed additional cameras to reduce blind spots and updated old cameras as part of the $362,000 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) grant.
Replaced locks, cores, and keys under one controlled system at specific buildings.
Invested an additional $371,000 to install 150 more cameras and approximately $270,000 to completely overhaul our radio communication system.
Purchased multiple hand-held metal detectors for all CSD buildings with students in them.
Funding, Assessments, and Partnerships
To support these initiatives:
In addition to physical security enhancements, we used part of the $362,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to increase mental health support.
Completed a comprehensive Safety and Security facilities assessment with the Pennsylvania State Police.
We updated our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with our local police departments to align with the state Model MOU. We are grateful for the support of Warminster Township and Upper Southampton Township police departments. They respond to calls when needed, routinely stop by our schools, and conduct random walkthroughs (wellness and safety checks) to ensure our schools are safe.
Our administrative staff received training from the County Sheriff’s Office on the best practices for using hand-held metal detectors in searches.
Mental Health Services
Recognizing that actual safety encompasses emotional and psychological well-being, we've significantly expanded our mental health support:
SEAL Team: We've implemented a Social, Emotional, Academic, and Learning (SEAL) Team to support students' mental and psychological health. For three years, we invested over $300,000 in a dedicated position to lead the development of processes and procedures, train staff, and create a district team approach. This team teaches coping and regulation strategies, models positive behaviors and fosters effective communication.
Behavioral Mental Health Counselors: We support students in grades K-12, helping them develop skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, and coping strategies.
Increased Psychological Services: Using our PCCD grant funding, we expanded our school's psychological services to provide even more comprehensive mental health support.
Threat Assessments—We revised and updated our student threat assessment protocols to align with state-recommended Model K-12 Threat Assessment Procedures and Guidelines.
Cybersecurity Measures
In today's digital age, online safety is just as crucial as physical safety. We've taken significant steps to protect our digital infrastructure:
We reconfigured our technology department and team to provide maximum focus on cybersecurity.
Conducted a thorough threat assessment on our network, receiving a favorable B+ rating from the third-party vendor who conducted the evaluation.
The Bucks County IU team recognized our staff for having one of the best safety and security infrastructures.
Ongoing Vigilance and Communication
We remain alert to emerging challenges:
We continue to monitor the recent increase in "swatting" incidents and are always in close contact with local law enforcement and emergency response teams to handle such situations effectively. Collaborative decisions are made to determine whether "threats" are credible.
Our new Supervisor of Safety and Security maintains strong relationships with local Police and First Responders, ensuring coordinated responses to potential incidents and has direct contact via a local police issue radio.
We continue to monitor Safe2Say and Gaggle (safety management software), which are tools that support our safety and security monitoring efforts. We have shared information with our students about the Safe2Say Something program, recognizing warning signs and signals, and anonymously reporting information. Our students have used this tipline to keep their friends and classmates safe.
Future Plans and Ongoing Commitment
Our commitment to staff and your children's safety and well-being remains unwavering as we move forward. Our plans include:
Continuous Training: Ongoing emergency management and situational awareness training for all staff, teachers, and substitutes.
Regular Assessments: Periodic reviews and updates of our security equipment and plans across the District.
Expanded Mental Health Support: Continuing to enhance our mental health services based on student needs and emerging best practices.
Technology Upgrades: Ongoing updates to our cybersecurity measures and digital infrastructure.
Community Engagement: Increasing parent and community involvement opportunities in our safety initiatives.
Funding Initiatives: Actively seeking additional grants and funding opportunities to support our safety and mental health programs.
Creating a safe, supportive environment is a collaborative effort. Your trust and partnership in this endeavor mean the world to us. We encourage you to engage with your children about school safety, reinforce the importance of "see something, say something,"
If you have any questions, concerns, or insights about our safety and security measures, please don't hesitate to contact our district office instead of social media posts. While we may not be able to discuss everything or do everything that may be asked, your input is invaluable as we refine and improve our approaches to keeping our students safe and supported.
Warmest regards,
Dana T. Bedden, Ed.D., CAA
Superintendent of Schools
