Olympia School District receives safety training offer with other districts

The Olympia School District (OSD) was invited to collaborate with other districts on the School Safety and Security Services Program (Policy 4311). During the June 27 school district meeting, Superintendent Patrick Murphy shared that the district was invited to collaborate while drafting the 4311 policy.

With a charter approved in September 2023, the School Safety Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is a 20-member committee authorized to recommend procedures accompanying Policy 4311.

In October 2023, OSD partnered with the University of Washington (UW)/Harborview Violence Prevention Team to facilitate committee work.

From November 2023 to the end of the 2023-2024 school year, OSD and UW/Harborview began discussing a data sharing agreement Committee work. The district signed the agreement in April this year.

In May, OSD received a proposal to collaborate with Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Seattle, and Tukwila school districts.

OSD Superintendent Patrick Murphy shared that the district was invited to collaborate while drafting the 4311 policy.

In line with this, district representatives are set to participate in the Collaborative Leadership Addressing School Safety (CLASS) workshop from August 15 to the spring of 2025.

CLASS trains participants on data presentations, roundtables, mitigation strategies, safety plans, prioritizing issues, and implementing plans.

“This is representing literally hundreds of thousands of students in Western Washington. With a lot of diversity in terms of race and socio-economic factors. I think will be very beneficial for us to be part of that group,” said Murphy.

OSD is set to send one board member, superintendent, safety liaison, discipline liaison, parent/family representative, one optional representative, and two student representatives.

“This isn't just about police and school district cooperation, it's about looking at all aspects of safety— the physical environment, engagement with families, student wellness, involvement in the community, and so on,” Murphy added.

After the duration of CLASS, the outputs will inform the School Safety CAC’s policy work this spring 2025.