New policy is implemented at high school and security officers go through new state-mandated training dealing with such situations as trespassing, law and liability, including search and seizure.
In an effort to bolster security at Malibu High School’s campus, a new policy has been drafted by school officials that mandates the front gates of the campus are to be locked during instructional hours and all access to the campus is to be restricted to selected entrances.
This is in addition to the new training of security staff at the school in accordance to mandates set down by the state Legislature, which have been incorporated into the state Education Code.
In a February newsletter to parents, Principal Michael Matthews said “no one incident led to this [policy],” but the decision to lock the gates is designed to limit outsiders from being on school grounds. During the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., entrance to the campus is now limited through the counseling and nurse’s offices.
Officials from the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s Station confirmed there was a trespassing incident at the school in January involving six boys from Santa Monica High School. They entered the campus with the intent of seeking out two Malibu students for a fight.
All six were take into custody by sheriff’s deputies. Four were released to their parents and two were later taken to the Sylmar Juvenile Hall. One of the students taken to the juvenile detention center was found to have a pellet gun in his possession and had been tagging school property, road signs and a car in the area of the school.
Matthews said, while this was not an isolated incident, there have been situations where strangers have been on campus without permission.
In light of concern over limited exits during an emergency, fire department officials said the locked campus gates do not pose a hazard as long as safety officials still have access. Locked doors are “illegal if it blocks exit ways,” said Fire Capt. Edward Orsorio of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “There is no danger as long as there is a way out of the building for students. We have bolt cutters and keys to most of the schools.”
He added that groundskeepers and other maintenance personnel have keys to school properties.
During earthquakes and fire drills, students are directed to a blacktop common area on the back of the campus.
Lockdown drills have also become part of the school’s safety plan. They are practiced twice a year.
“The doors are locked, shades pulled down and students on the floor,” said Matthews.
Matthews emphasized that safety is the priority. “We want to know where every kid is,” he said. “Our job is to not let kids go until we know what is going on. We’re responsible for every kid’s safety.”
He added he has had little response from parents and students about the new policy, although he said the high school’s teachers feel it’s good protection from intruders.
Malibu High employs two full-time security officers.
“Our security officers monitor the campus. Every kid knows who they are,” said Matthews.
Both have completed the security training that has been mandated by the education code.
The security officer training, which is conducted by West Los Angeles College under the supervision of the Los Angeles County Office of Education Safe School Program, stresses officer conduct when dealing with students and property. The officers learn how to testify effectively in court, use of citations, and identify situations that require mandatory reporting to police and mediation.
“They defuse situations that become volatile,” said Bryan Astrachan, an instructor in the program.
The security officers are not peace officers but they do have authority to detain suspects until police officers arrive. They are also critical to the execution of the schools’ safe school policy.
Referring to Malibu High’s security team, Det. Sgt. Phil Morris of the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s Station said, “They have a good security group there.”
He added that most schools are revamping their lockdown policies in light of the many episodes of school violence across the country.
Principal Matthews and other members of the administration created Malibu High’s safe school policy, using guidelines from the school district.
The state Legislature realized that school districts are being saddled with an increase in crime and other dangerous situations.
Section 38001.5 requires that school security officers undergo training that has been developed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs in consultation with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.