Dear Granite District Families and Employees,
We wanted to remind our entire community of the safety efforts being made in our schools and mental health resources available for both our students, their families, and employees.
While we do not publicize many of our security efforts (as that would hinder their effectiveness), we do utilize many best practices to secure our schools including the following:
-Secure foyers/entry access points to elementary schools and several junior high schools. We still have a handful of these projects remaining districtwide and we anticipate they will be completed by next Spring.
-Single access entry (where possible) with key card access for employees including on all exterior buildings/relocatable doors.
-School check-in protocols for all visitors with an instantaneous background check system.
-ID badge/visitor badge requirements so everyone is easily identifiable on our campuses.
-Over 5000+ security cameras districtwide monitored by a 24/7 dispatch center.
-In addition to local police school resource officers (SROs), we have 24 Granite District Police Department SROs to help provide security and coverage to the entire district.
-Implementing a weapons sniffing dog (currently being trained) to help identify threats in our buildings.
We have many other protocols in place and continue to explore additional options to help keep our school campuses secure. The effectiveness of such practices are contingent on their implementation. Secure access points/doors should never be propped open and left unsupervised. We appreciate the patience of our parents utilizing appropriate check-in protocols at our schools and visibly wearing the provided identification badges provided while on our campuses.
OUR MOST EFFECTIVE campus security system continues to be the eyes and ears of our students reporting unsafe behavior of ANY kind to a trusted adult (parent, teacher, administrator). They can do so anonymously 24/7 using the SafeUT mobile phone application (see attachment) or texting our dispatch center directly at (801) 664-2929. Please discuss with your student the importance of saying something when they see something unsafe. We especially need help and assistance in monitoring behavior and threats on social media in places the school and the district do NOT have the ability to monitor. We appreciate the help and support of our students in working to help keep our schools safe.
If your student, or you as an employee are experiencing concern or anxiety in light of current events, please see the below links and attachments with mental health supports and resources both within our schools and in the community. Please don’t hesitate to communicate directly with your school for any supports your child may need.
We are a community and need to continue to be vigilant in helping to keep our schools a safe place for learning and growth. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Granite School District
