District administrators reviewed the Washington Unified School District’s Comprehensive School Safety Plans for 2025–26 at the Sept. 25 meeting and outlined required components, the review process and next steps before the board is asked to approve the plans in October.
Director Jay Burns explained that each school’s Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) is updated annually and must address state requirements including child abuse reporting, disaster preparedness, emergency drills, procedures for safe entry and exit, and adaptations for students with disabilities. Burns said site safety teams worked with the West Sacramento Police Department and the fire marshal; Burns and staff met with both agencies in July to discuss proposed revisions and incorporate recommendations.
“All staff must be trained on a comprehensive school safety plan,” Burns said, adding that certificated staff training was held Aug. 4 and classified staff training Aug. 5; the district plans catch-up training for any employees who missed those sessions. He described required documentation for monthly and quarterly drills, the use of standard response protocols, and expectations that after-school providers participate in drills.
Trustees asked about the timeline and transparency. Burns and other staff described the process: sites review and adopt plans by March 1 annually; district-level review and consultation with public safety partners occurs in June–July; the board is asked to review plans in September and formally approve them by Oct. 15. Burns noted that plans are available for parents to inspect at the school office but that detailed maps and certain security-sensitive material are redacted when plans are posted publicly.
Ending: Staff will return with the CSSPs as an action item at the board’s first October meeting; trustees asked staff to explore ways to ensure parents and community members can review safety content and that site-level safety conversations are scheduled at accessible times.