ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

In last week's message, I reported two incidents of students using social media to directly or indirectly threaten violence in their schools during the previous week. This week, a middle school student posted a picture of a fellow student holding a gun. The picture quickly circulated among students and came to the attention of school officials. While the student did not threaten violence, the picture was posted on an unofficial school social media site with the school's name on it. Rumors quickly spread.

Thank you to our students and families for reporting the post. The police acted immediately and identified the student, who was not present at school that day. It turned out to be a BB gun pistol, which falls into the definition of an imitation firearm. It is illegal for a person under the age of 18 to own any type of BB gun without parental permission.

We will continue to take every threat or perceived threat seriously and work closely with law enforcement to determine which threats are credible, and respond accordingly. We will also continue to let parents know when we have identified a threat or perceived threat at their school.

Please talk to your children about the consequences of saying or posting anything on social media that could be construed as a threat or perceived threat against a school. If a student's verbal comments or a post is determined to be a viable threat, it's a federal crime, which could carry a penalty of up to five years of incarceration. One impulsive decision that takes a few seconds to say or post on-line can destroy a young person’s future, regardless of the child’s age.

Keeping pace with the constantly evolving digital world seems overwhelming for parents. New social media platforms and apps that target children and teens are appearing regularly. While social media apps can give children a sense of connection and fun, unfortunately there are many negative things that may occur, including cyberbullying, sexting, posting hateful messages or content, participating in negative group conversations, and an evolving illicit drug ecosystem, including fentanyl trafficking, classified as an epidemic in Riverside County by the Office of the District Attorney.

Many parents don’t have the knowledge or time to keep up with their children’s online behavior, but it is a necessity in today's digital society. We will continue to promote digital citizenship and awareness among our students as well as provide information and training for parents on how to monitor children’s online behavior, but we will all need to work together to prevent cyberbullying. Below are some steps parents can take to protect their children from harmful digital behavior:

• Learn more about using social media safely.
• Review or re-set your child’s phone location and privacy settings.
• Follow or friend your teen on social media sites or have another trusted adult do so.
• Stay up-to-date on the latest apps, social media platforms, and digital slang used by children and teens.
• Know your child’s user names and passwords for email and social media.
• Engage your children in a conversation to establish rules about appropriate digital behavior, content, and apps. Here's some tips from experts.
• Enter into a technology use contract with your children.

Bullying can be a catalyst for suicide. When kids who are at risk for suicide because of depression or other mental health issues are bullied, the results can be disastrous. According to some experts, cyberbullying causes kids to consider suicide more than traditional bullying. As a school community, we must work together to protect the health and safety of our children, and that includes their mental health.

Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Many of our students struggle with feelings of helplessness, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. Learn more about youth suicide here. When we identify students who are struggling with their mental health, we connect them and their families to professionals and resources to assist them. In some cases we exercise Section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), which allows law enforcement or mental health professionals to involuntarily commit a student that may be a danger to themselves or others.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis,, call or text 988 immediately. 988 is the suicide and crisis lifeline and is available 24/7. If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.

Alvord Cares, the Riverside County Office of Education, and Santa Claus, Inc. joined forces this past week to bring big smiles to the faces of our children. Thank you to RCOE Superintendent, Edwin Gomez, for partnering with us and Santa Claus, Inc, which has served the Inland Empire since 1952. Its mission is to bring essential tangible items to children living in our communities, including clothing, shoes, undergarments, blankets, toiletries, backpacks, school supplies, books, and even toys!

Thank you to Alvord Cares Founder and Trustee Carolyn Wilson, for your ongoing commitment to this meaningful and targeted charitable work that benefits our children and community. And thanks to Councilmember Jim Perry, Trustee Lizeth Vega, Trustee Robert Schwandt, and School Board President Julie Moreno for supporting Alvord Cares and for joining in the festivities last week.

The California Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Coalition awarded LSHS with a bronze medal in recognition of their successful implementation of PBIS. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports is an evidence-based, three-tiered framework to improve and integrate all of the data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day.

Mental health is recognized as a critical part of education. PBIS is part of an interconnected systems framework to address mental health and social-emotional well-being in schools. Our goal is to embed mental health supports in all aspects of the school experience to support and advance learning.

As of Friday, September 16, our comprehensive safety and risk management consulting team has completed school site vulnerability assessments at all our elementary schools and two middle schools. This coming week, the assessments will be completed at our remaining two middle schools and all five high schools.

The process of installing cameras at every school as well as replacing current perimeter fencing with 8-foot anti-climb fencing is in the works. As a public entity, school districts must fully comply with the California Public Contract Code, which slows the process but ensures it is a fair and responsible process and is completed smoothly and efficiently.

Aside from immediate action to address an imminent danger, findings from the school site vulnerability assessments will become part of our comprehensive facilities plan to upgrade and modernize every school site with state-of-the-art safety and security enhancements, including high-tech access control systems, advanced outdoor lighting, emergency alarm and intercom systems, and landscape design that is welcoming and inviting but also provides an open and clear visual line of sight to all campus and building access points. Learn how Measure J, on the November 8, 2022 ballot, supports our comprehensive facilities plan here.

On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for choosing Alvord as your education partner. We share a vested and committed interest in positive student outcomes. If we work together, there's nothing we cannot overcome for the betterment of our students and our community.

In partnership,

Allan Mucerino

MRS. JULIE A. MORENO

Trustee Area 3

Myra Linn K-5

Wells 6-8

La Sierra 9-12

DR. JOANNA DORADO

Vice President
Trustee Area 1

RMK K-5

Twinhill K-5

Valley View K-5

Loma Vista 6-8

MR. ROBERT SCHWANDT
Clerk
Trustee Area 4

McAuliffe K-5

Orrenmaa K-5

Stokoe K-5

Arizona 6-8

Alvord High 11-12

Hillcrest 9-12

MRS. CAROLYN M. WILSON

Trustee

Lake Hills K-5

Promenade K-5

Villegas 6-8

District Office

MS. LIZETH VEGA
Trustee
Trustee Area 2

Arlanza K-5

La Granada K-5

Terrace K-5

Norte Vista 9-12

Alternative Ed Center

Keller Administration Site

Child Nutrition Services

Students Reporting a Positive Case: 27 (Last week 50)
Staff Reporting a Positive Case: 8 (Last week 9)
Cases Requiring Contact Tracing: 26 (Last week 31)

Riverside County Data COVID-19 Community Level: Low (last week Low)

Weekly Metrics Used to Determine the COVID-19 Community Level

Case Rate per 100,000 population: 140.54 (Last Week 140.54)

New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population: 6.1 (Last Week 6.1)

% Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19: 3.8% (Last Week 4.3%)

Recommended actions based on current level

Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Get tested if you have symptoms. Wear a mask if you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19. Wear a mask on public transportation. You may choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others.

Email: Superintendent@alvordschools.org
Website: https://www.alvordschools.org
Location: 9 Kpc Parkway, Corona, CA 92879, USA
Phone: 951) 509-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/alvordunified
Twitter: @AlvordUnified