Dear Parents,
Recent tragic events across the country are leading to many conversations across a broad range of subjects. First off, we mourn with the Parkland community in Florida; our thoughts are with them.
Coping with tragedies such as this are difficult, and in the coming days the public discourse will leave many of our kids confused about the present world in which we live. It’s important for our children to understand that despite the seemingly constant barrage of news reports, school remains a safe place to be.
Please know that the safety and security of every Granite student is our top priority. All our schools have detailed safety protocols to deal with all kinds of incidents. These protocols are reviewed by administrative staff and law enforcement on a regular basis to ensure the safety of our kids. Click here to view school safety protocols.
Beyond these protocols, we work closely with Granite Police and other law enforcement agencies to evaluate and make any necessary adjustments to security measures. The district continues to move forward with installing main entry security doors at every one of our elementary schools. We are also exploring potential measures for the open campus layouts of junior high schools and high schools.
In Granite School District we are fortunate to employ our own 16-member police force that provides full time security and law enforcement to all of our campuses. This is especially critical for places where the local municipality does not have a School Resource Officer in place. A police presence on campus mitigates many criminal activities on school property. Just the sight of an officer deters those looking to cause harm and provides our students with an added sense of security.
Regardless of all these security measures, our most effective prevention tool is the eyes and ears of our students. We strongly encourage every student with a smartphone to download the SafeUT app, which allows users to anonymously report bullying, violence, harassment, threats, concerns about a friend, or anything else that makes them feel uncomfortable.
We also have a 24/7 District Safety Hotline where students can call (801-481-7199) or text (801-664-2929) to anonymously report unsafe behavior or to talk to a crisis counselor.
Lastly, we encourage parents to talk with their children about these events and the critical importance of telling adults about unsafe behavior they may see. Here are some great resources for beginning the conversation:
Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events (American Academy of Pediatrics)
School Shootings and Other Traumatic Events: How to Talk to Students (National Education Association)
How to Help Kids Feel Safe After Tragedy (PBS Parents)
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact your school principal or call Granite School District at 385-646-4525. Thank you for your support.
Benjamin Horsley
Director, Communications & Community Outreach
Granite School District
(385) 646-4420, Cell (801) 698-5335
Fax (385) 646-4194
www.graniteschools.org