This week, WFIS attended the 10th annual OSPI School Safety Summit, hosted by Brianna Kelly, Assistant Director of Restorative Practices and Student Discipline. The summit included updates from the School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee (SS-SWAC) and presentations on safety trends and legislative developments.
Amber Wynn, Program Supervisor at the School Safety Center, relayed that the Gangs in Schools Task Force report shows increases in gang-related activity on campuses. Girls are being used to transport drugs and weapons due to more lenient search protocols, and younger juveniles are being recruited because of weaker legal consequences. Recommended interventions include community-based support, restorative practices, mentorship programs, family engagement, employment pathways, and removing service access barriers.
Breakout group discussions focused on the 14 topics outlined for review at the Summit. WFIS conveyed that the following are most relevant for private schools:
- #4 Inclusion/Support for Vulnerable Populations
- #6 Community Involvement
- #7 Sustainable Interventions for Students
- #13 Barriers to School Staff Intervention
Others highlighted concerns about the need for additional funding, lack of training, insufficient time and resources to manage safety-related responsibilities, and fear around reporting as a significant barrier. Several members felt that data collection is lacking, particularly around sexual assaults and safety incidents. In contrast, others cautioned against potential misuse of data but stressed its importance in identifying needs and securing funding. Early intervention around attendance was also emphasized over punitive truancy measures.
Brianna Kelly provided a legislative report on recent bills passed this session:
- SB 5004: Updates emergency response systems to improve law enforcement response times.
- HB 1296: Adds parent bill of rights language and establishes high-level compliance standards for HIB investigations.
- SB 5167: State budget bill that may include school safety funding.
The SS-SWAC identified four focus areas for the coming year:
- Identifying Threats
- Community Involvement
- Violence Prevention
- Sustainable Interventions
WFIS will continue to advocate for private schools in statewide safety planning.
