On February 4, community leaders, parents, educators, and representatives from the City of Oak Harbor, NAS Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor Police Department, and several other community organizations gathered at Oak Harbor Public Schools to discuss school safety.

The Superintendent Community Roundtable is a space that brings together diverse perspectives to learn about district operations, discuss key topics, and strengthen two-way communication and problem solving with trusted voices and ambassadors of the #OneOakHarbor school community. 

Participants of Wednesday’s session gained an inside look at how the district addresses school safety in and out of the classroom, and how to participate in supporting safety in and around our schools. Maintaining safety for students, families, staff, and citizens is a collective responsibility that depends on a coordinated, community-wide effort.

“Safety was the number one concern shared with me when I started as superintendent,” said Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula. “We’ve implemented many structural improvements and have hosted opportunities for community engagement and educational programs around safety, but there is always room for improvement.”

“When I think of safety, I think of the importance of a sense of community and a community that looks out for each other,” said Skagit Valley College’s Director of the Whidbey Island Campus Andres Orozco. 

“In my role, I am always thinking of how to manage and maintain the spirit of our community as the city grows,” said Oak Harbor City Administrator Sabrina Combs.

District leadership shared examples of safety practices in our schools, including new single point of entry and visitor information systems, technology systems, and equipment. The group also learned about Oak Harbor Public Schools standard response protocol and participated in a discussion around safety scenarios grounded in real situations.

Participants shared their concerns around internet safety, mental health, emergency response, bullying, and environmental safety. Then they started discussing how to unite around solutions.

“It is important to me that, despite all of the tensions in our world today, our schools are safe and our kids are safe here in Oak Harbor,” said Oak Harbor Chief of Police Tony Slowick.

One topic identified by Commanding Officer of NAS Whidbey Nathan Gammache was creating better safety routes to and from schools. Older schools in our community were built around an expectation that most students would ride a bus to school or walk. Today, there can be upwards of 90 cars dropping off students and spilling into main roadways. Despite the presence of crosswalks and signage, drivers often drive carelessly in school zones. The school district and the city work in partnership to address concerns. 

“We are in a position where we are trying to update old systems and existing spaces to accommodate a growing community with new and changing needs,” said assistant superintendent Dwight Lundstrom. “Our new schools being built are designed for these changes and for future needs, but we still have to continue to address the challenges of our current situation (and infrastructure).”

“We are increasing law enforcement presence in school zones and are working on signage,” said Chief Slowick. He also shared that the city takes public comments seriously and encouraged community members to be a part of the change by participating in committees, city council meetings, and reporting avenues. “It’s going to take all of us,” he said.

Dr. Kuss-Cybula shared the importance of involvement in our schools and how it connects to safety, “We know safety starts with trust and belonging, which is why it’s built into our strategic plan. From welcoming new families to graduating our seniors, this is a journey our community takes together”.

Community members are encouraged to apply to be a volunteer with the district so more adults are present on crosswalks, playgrounds, lunchrooms, and classrooms. All volunteers go through an extensive background check and are issued a photo identification badge.

Kristina Hines, a parent and the director of the Economic Development Council of Island County shared, “When I think about what attracts people to our community, I think about the importance of safety of our schools.”

During the two-hour discussion, the roundtable partners demonstrated that they are deeply committed to modeling personal accountability for student and community safety.

“I’m thinking of the ways I can help reinforce messaging as a community partner,” said pediatrician Dr. Amy Garrett. “How can I help inform families early on about the resources that are available to them?”

“I’m considering how I can better align our safety protocols with the school and city,” said CEO of Habitat for Humanity Orin Kolaitis.

Bringing thought-partners together to troubleshoot complicated topics is why the Superintendent Roundtable exists. The first roundtable discussion in November covered the topic of school budgets. The next discussion will center around capital projects and future planning.

Parent and volunteer Allie Hanford reflected as the meeting wrapped, “It is very encouraging to participate in this discussion and it makes me happy to know how we are all collaborating for a better future.”