San Mateo County's Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities is a collaborative, multi-agency group that was formed in 2013, following the fatal shooting of 26 students and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The mission of the Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities is to identify and address safety needs of county youth, to work across agencies to implement best practices in emergency response and mental health, and to support with a legal framework for lawful information-sharing, using a common language. Emergency response, mental health, suicide prevention, threat assessment, CSEC/Human Trafficking, Student Leadership. All around, information sharing

The Big Five

Through this collaborative process, the Coalition produced the Big Five, a common emergency plan adopted by all San Mateo County school districts and law enforcement agencies. The Big Five protocol supports high-quality training for school staff and community members and ensures clear channels of communication among schools, first responders, parents, and community members should an emergency occur.

Resources

One-Page Overview of The Big Five (English, Spanish)

The Big Five Community Packet (English)

School and District Resources

Other Work by the Coalition

In addition to the Big Five, the Coalition released a Student Threat Assessment Protocol and Suicide Prevention Toolkit in August 2017, and has provided training to every school district in San Mateo County, along with several private schools. While not a foolproof method of assessing risk, the Student Threat Assessment Protocol provides every school with an evidence-based process and is intended to provide early intervention and support to students who may be struggling. To support this process, there is also a countywide Level Two Student Threat Assessment Team that meets on a regular basis to review cases.

Learn more about the Coalition's and SMCOE's programs and resources to foster safe and supportive schools.

Members

Representative Position/Title Agency/District
Chris Abalos Deputy Director San Mateo County Probation Department
Ed Barberini Chief of Police City of San Mateo Police Department
Tony Bayudan Legislative Aide Board of Supervisor David Canepa
Tony Blackman Battalion Chief Office of Emergency Services
Sophia Brink Legislative Aide Board of Supervisor David Canepa
Shirley Chu Clinical Services Manager San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Claire Cunningham Chief Deputy County Attorney San Mateo County Attorney's Office
Jarrett Dooley Director, Student Services Sequoia Union High School District
John Fong Director San Mateo County Children and Family Services
Nadia Hahn Deputy District Attorney San Mateo County District Attorney's Office
Mason Henricks Coordinator, School Safety and Risk Prevention San Mateo County Office of Education
Tom Ledda Manager San Mateo County Schools Insurance Group
Jeneé Littrell Consultant San Mateo County Office of Education
Patricia Love Executive Director, Strategy and Communications San Mateo County Office of Education
Nancy Magee County Superintendent of Schools San Mateo County Office of Education
Mary McGrath Executive Director, Safe and Supportive Schools San Mateo County Office of Education
Ziomara Ochoa Deputy Director San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Beth Polito Superintendent Las Lomitas Elementary School District
Don Scatena Director, Student Services San Mateo Union High School District
Kris Shouse Associate Superintendent, Educational Services San Mateo County Office of Education
Brian Tupper Director, Public Safety San Mateo County Community College District
Carine Verdusco Program Manager San Mateo County Human Services Agency

Background on the Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities

San Mateo County’s collaborative work on school safety began in April 2013, when Congresswoman Speier, Supervisors Horsley and Tissier, Sheriff Munks, Superintendent Anne Campbell, and retired Assemblymember Gene Mullin sponsored a summit, "Beyond Newtown: How to Ensure Safe Schools and Communities." The Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities was created as a result of that summit.

"Beyond Newtown" Summit Resources

The following resources include information presented at the Summit.