Empowering Safer School Environments: Highlights from the 2024 CALSA Conference

We are thrilled to announce that our DCA team successfully coordinated a captivating presentation at the 2024 CALSA Conference in San Diego on June 28, 2024. This insightful session focused on the best practices for creating safe school environments, delving into critical aspects such as community engagement, preparedness, physical security, and infrastructure design solutions. The attendees were highly engaged as our expert panel shared their invaluable expertise and practical strategies aimed at enhancing safety protocols within educational institutions.

Our dynamic speaker panel addressed crucial elements of ensuring safety within our educational environments, encouraging active participation through an interactive Q&A session. This collaborative approach fostered a rich exchange of ideas, as we collectively seek to create school environments where students, educators, and staff feel secure and supported. It was an honor to explore these vital components alongside other dedicated members of the educational community who are committed to enhancing school safety throughout California.

Special thanks to our esteemed panel members for their insightful contributions and valuable contributions to the session. José Banda brought over four decades of experience in TK-12 education, emphasizing leadership and curriculum development, community engagement, and strategic policy restructuring. Miguel Cruz, with his extensive background in facilities management, shared his expertise on enhancing school environments and addressing operational challenges. Paul Llanez provided deep insights from his 25 years in law enforcement and his specialization in school safety and emergency preparedness. Steve Sowa, with his vast experience in architectural design, highlighted the importance of thoughtful and secure infrastructure planning.

We also wish to express our sincere thanks to our partners at EKC Enterprises, Inc. for sponsoring the workshop and their unwavering support in creating safer educational facilities for our students. Together, we are making a significant impact on the safety and well-being of our educational communities, striving to build a secure and nurturing environment for all.