Turlock Unified increases staffing, locks classrooms after stabbing at Turlock High School
Turlock Unified School District Superintendent Dana Trevethan said she’s worked with administrators to review safety protocols and student accountability in the wake of a stabbing early this month at Turlock High School.
The district increased staffing and returned to closed and locked classroom doors, Trevethan said during a board meeting Tuesday evening. School officials are also making efforts to decrease student loitering, she said.
Families have called for the district to take safety concerns more seriously and expand protections for students.
Trevethan and Turlock Police Department Interim Chief Gary Hampton released a joint statement to families Wednesday, a week and a half after a boy stabbed another student on campus Nov. 5.
“We want you to know TUSD school campuses are safe and the recent act of violence is an isolated event,” the statement read.
Principals of secondary schools will read the statement to students by the end of the week, Trevethan said.
Students and family members experiencing sustained fear and uncertainty should reach out to a school counselor or trusted adult, Trevethan and Hampton said. Students should tell a teacher, school resource officer or anyone they trust if they see or hear of something that could lead to violence.
“Please know that the safety and security of all 14,000 students continues to be of utmost importance to us both personally and professionally, and our colleagues as well,” the statement said. “We’re all striving to return to a more traditional educational experience.”
The district is working to partner with programs including Knowledge Save Lives, according to the statement. Merced-based Knowledge Saves Lives offers active-shooter and emergency preparedness resources and training, its website says.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Trevethan and trustees thanked psychology teacher Ryan Tribble and school resource officer Jessica Clark for intervening.
“Both of their actions and responses were critical in keeping our Turlock High School community safe and secure,” Trevethan said.
