Orange County NC Website
4 <br /> Orange County Schools Safety Task Force <br /> Report to Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> June 2023 <br /> EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> The Board of Commissioners approved the formation and charge for the Schools <br /> Safety Task Force (SSTF or Task Force) at the Board's November 15, 2022 Business <br /> meeting. The SSTF Charge (subsequently amended on April 18, 2023) was to: <br /> 1) Discuss ways in which the Orange County government, schools, law <br /> enforcement, and community can enhance the safety of the school <br /> environment to protect from external threats and promote the education of <br /> Orange County K-12 public school students; and <br /> 2) Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)new or amended <br /> policies, ordinances, and/or practices that will address those external threats <br /> and provide a safer school environment for our students, teachers, and staff. <br /> Task Force members and their stakeholder representations on the Task Force are <br /> listed on Attachment A. Retired Judge Jay Bryan served as facilitator for the Task <br /> Force. Greg Wilder with the Orange County Manager's Office provided staff <br /> support. <br /> From February 2023 through June 2023, the Task Force met a total of six times to <br /> explore the primary topic areas of: <br /> • Protest/demonstrations <br /> • Active Assailants, and <br /> • Public Access to School Property During School Hours. <br /> The meetings were open to the public, and notice of the meetings, agendas, and attached <br /> documents was given in several different locations. SSTF members considered <br /> information that included, but was not limited to: <br /> • vulnerability assessments, <br /> • comprehensive safety plans, <br /> • coordinated communication between the school districts and law enforcement, <br /> • school risk management plans, <br /> • best practices for School Resource Officers (SROs), <br /> • modifications to school buildings regarding safety, and <br /> • state statutes and local policies regarding protests and school safety. <br /> 2 <br />