Creating Safer Schools

At WVSD, safety and belonging go hand in hand. Each month, our school leaders meet to review School Safety Operations and Coordination Center (SSOCC) safety practices, share progress, and ensure every school is following Washington State safety requirements. These meetings may happen behind the scenes, but they play a big role in helping our schools stay safe, strong, and ready to support every student. 

Klayton Wyckoff, West Valley’s District Safety Lead, explains that the SSOCC system works like a monthly consultation for principals and designated building safety leads. “The SSOCC staff and systems are very reliable and knowledgeable resources,” says Wyckoff. “But the real work is done at the building level.” Each principal or building safety lead takes the information from the SSOCC and turns it into action that supports students and staff every day. “Leaders at each of our schools do the ‘heavy lifting’ every day; we wouldn’t be where we are without them,” shares Wyckoff.

Leaders Making Big Progress

This year, every school has been working through a three-stage School Safety Progress Tracker.  Stage 1 focuses on the basic foundations of safety. WVSD set a goal for all schools to complete Stage 1 by the end of the school year.  Every school is on track to meet that goal.

Mr. Wyckoff is very proud of the District’s progress. This work takes time, effort, and commitment from WVSD school leaders. Safety work can be complex and time-consuming, but our school teams continue to step up to make sure classrooms and shared spaces are safe for everyone. 

Training Puts Everyone in Control

Another major milestone this year is that every WVSD school has completed both Student Safety Basic Training and Staff Safety Basic Training. Student and staff training cover the two key safety pillars of Prevention and Response. These pillars help give everyone the tools to recognize concerns and take action.

“The vision is putting you in control of school safety,” says Wyckoff. And “you” means everyone!

To support this vision even further, WVSD launched a Substitute Safety Training video. This onboarding has helped every adult who steps into a WVSD school understand our culture of safety and the shared expectations that help protect students. 

A Community Effort

While the SSOCC provides guidance, WVSD is fortunate to have school teams that are committed to action inside each school.  Monthly meetings help our leaders stay aligned, build strong habits, and create environments where students feel cared for and ready to learn. 

Safety is more than a task; it’s a culture that everyone builds together for West Valley schools.