Seattle Public Schools Superintendant Dr. Brent Jones shared a safety and wellness update with families. Among the changes are work staffing, behavioral health screenings, and collboration with the Seattle Police Department

Dear SPS families and staff,

I know the end of summer is a busy time of year and hope this message finds you well.

We always look forward to the start of a new school year—when students see their old friends and meet their new teachers. Seattle Public Schools (SPS) educators and staff are busy preparing to welcome students back to school!

The first day is a good reminder that student success takes a village as we work together to model positive routines for our scholars.

Despite many moments of joy last school year, the tragic loss of students to gun violence deeply saddened our community. These incidents, along with threats of violence, have understandably raised concerns about school and community safety.

SPS is committed to creating safe, welcoming environments where students can feel they belong and build positive relationships.

As we begin the school year, our efforts are focusing on changes in school infrastructure and staffing, violence prevention partnerships, and mental health supports.

Key Wellness Measures for 2024-25: Proactive Well-Being Supports

Increased Social Work Staffing: The 2024-25 budget includes extra funding for school social workers. It will raise the total to more than 50, up from 30 in 2022-23. This will provide more students with essential mental health and social-emotional support.

Behavioral Health Screenings: We have expanded the Check Yourself survey to all middle and high schools. This voluntary survey allows our young people to share concerns they may have about their health, including substance use, mental health, and safety.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Supports: We have expanded SEL lessons and support for our elementary students. New mental health lessons for middle and high school students will help promote behaviors that support good mental health, reduce stigma, and improve access to resources.

Key Safety Measures for 2024-25: Keeping Schools Safe

This summer, SPS has continued to enhance campus safety. This year’s investments will focus on improving safety and well-being in schools, expanding partnerships to prevent violence, and continuing mental health services. While clear backpacks and student identification badges will not be required, they are still being considered.

Increased Staffing and Security: We are boosting security in schools, especially in areas with higher safety concerns. This includes adding more safety specialists and hiring an executive director of student and community safety. The new executive director will oversee our Safety and Security team and work with city and state partners like Seattle Police and Fire.

Public Safety Collaboration: The SPS Safety and Security team is strengthening its collaboration with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to enhance student safety and build trust. This partnership will expand on the important work that schools and first responders already do. It includes maintaining regular communication on safety-related matters, working together to protect students, staff, and community from violence around our schools, and conducting building and campus walk-throughs to ensure emergency preparedness. We anticipate an increased police presence around school perimeters during key times — before school, during lunch, and after school.

High School Lunchtime: Our principals know their school communities best. For the start of the school year, high schools will decide whether students can leave campus for lunch. SPS Safety and Security will continue dedicated staff support for our campuses. This includes monitoring lunchtime safety. SPS or SPD may recommend closing campuses if necessary due to safety incidents.

Emergency Drills and Campus Signage: This summer, SPS upgraded our emergency response system to improve communication between schools and central office. All schools have updated weapon-free zones signs, reinforcing this critical safety expectation. We conduct regular emergency drills—fire, shelter-in-place, and earthquake—to prepare students and staff for emergencies. Please remind your students to take these drills seriously.

Communication and Reporting Concerns: We are continuously improving our communication during emergencies. The district and schools send out notifications via phone, email, and text message. Please ensure your contact information is up to date with your student’s school, so you do not miss important updates.

Visitor and Volunteer Check-In: As a reminder, all school visitors need to sign in and wear a visitor badge while on campus. This helps us keep track of who is in our buildings.

SPS has a Safe Schools Hotline. We encourage everyone to “see something, say something.” Anyone can report school safety concerns to staff, the Safe Schools Hotline, or the “Seattle Public Schools” mobile app. The hotline is available 24/7 at 206-252-0510.

Partnering to Interrupt Violence

Additional Budget Resources for Safety: We are dedicating an additional $2.3 million of the SPS 2024-25 budget to increased staffing in the SPS Safety and Security team. We are grateful for the city’s partnership. Mayor Bruce Harrell is matching this with additional funds for violence prevention. This will strengthen our work with community-based violence programs and expand access to behavioral health support through on-site services and telehealth for students. More details will be available soon.

We are continually exploring new safety and security measures and will keep you informed of any updates. Your feedback is important to us, and we encourage you to reach out with any questions or suggestions.

Keeping students safe takes all of us—students, families, staff, and community organizations. Thank you for your support and partnership in keeping our schools safe.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brent Jones
Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools