News

We are committed to continuously updating you on the progress we make surrounding school safety. Together with input from our safety task force, Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) has been making concerted efforts to improve safety throughout our district schools and offices. Please see below for a few updates. 

STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL (SRP)  - “I LOVE U GUYS” 

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is a uniform, planned and practiced response to an incident.  It creates common language used in emergency situations. NMUSD has selected “I Love You Guys” as the District-wide SRP.  “I Love You Guys” clearly defines the five actions to take in an emergency: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter.

In collaboration with local law enforcement and school resource officers (SROs), safety drills and training are conducted using the common language surrounding school safety: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter. 

Please familiarize yourself with these five actions so that in the event of an emergency you have a clear understanding of the action being taken to support immediate safety efforts.  

Appropriate signage with description of the five safety actions will be displayed throughout our schools and district offices. 

NMUSD staff received initial training in November. Additional training will be ongoing for staff, with student training expected to begin in the coming months. 

PHYSICAL SECURITY 

The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) is conducting physical security assessments of all NMUSD school and office buildings, with participation from local law enforcement. These assessments identify potential opportunities to physically enhance safety measures. Assessments for secondary schools have been conducted and we are in the process of completing assessments for elementary schools and other district facilities. 

Our district has committed to implementing an integrated electronic security system at each of our schools and district offices, which will include equipment to provide controlled entry such as doorbell, camera, and intercom system. Installation of electronic security devices at school front lobbies is expected to be complete by the start of the 2023-24 school year. 

WETIP 2.0 

WeTip 2.0 is a 24-hour anonymous reporting system (tip line) through which suspicious activity and safety concerns at secondary schools can be reported via phone, text and an online form. WeTip 2.0 will be implemented at all secondary schools in the spring. 

THREAT ASSESSMENT 

NMUSD is working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Orange County School Mobile Assessment and Resource Team (OC SMART), who is conducting training for specific school employees on the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), an evidence-based threat assessment protocol. The CSTAG includes steps to help evaluate whether a threat is credible and an appropriate response to potential threats. 

CENTIGEX CRISISALERT 

Employees at Newport Harbor High School and Davis Magnet School will pilot an emergency alert system, which allows all staff members to notify the appropriate people of an emergency for them to initiate any of the five SRP actions. The pilot is expected to begin in spring 2023. 

As we continue to collaborate with our school community and law enforcement agencies, we will continue to keep you informed on our efforts to enhance safety. Visit the NMUSD School Safety Webpage for more information. Remember, if you “see something, say something.”