The School Safety Working Group (SSWG), organized under SB20-023 and HB22-1274, completed their legislatively mandated work in 2023. A collaboration of the state agencies that provide resources to schools, the group was tasked with:
- Studying and implementing feedback of the state auditor's report regarding school safety released in September 2019;
- Considering program organization and recommending reorganization if necessary;
- Identifying shared metrics to examine program effectiveness;
- Facilitating interagency coordination and communication;
- Increasing transparency and accessibility of state grants and resources, particularly for school districts without a grant writer, which includes improving outreach and may include developing common grant applications;
- Facilitating and addressing data sharing, including allowable data sharing at the local level, when appropriate and allowable under state and federal law; and
- Addressing school safety program challenges in a coordinated way.
The final report of this stage of the work is attached here. Both the Office of School Safety and the Colorado Department of Education will facilitate completion of many of the SSWG's recommendations and continue the statewide collaborations.
Please direct any questions about this work to christine.harms@state.co.us or 303-912-6915. Thank you.
Meeting Notes
Mission & Duties
In response to Senate Bill 2020-023 and House Bill 2022-1274, the Colorado Interagency Working Group on School Safety (aka, the School Safety Working Group) has been formed and work has begun. The mission of the Working Group is to enhance school safety through cost-effective use of public resources. Statutory mandates include:
- Study and implement recommendations of the state auditor's report regarding school safety released September 2019
- Consider program organization and recommend reorganization if necessary
- Identify shared metrics to examine program effectiveness
- Facilitate interagency coordination and communication
- Increased transparency and accessibility of state grants and resources, particularly for school districts without a grant writer, which includes improving outreach and may include developing common grant applications
- Facilitate and address data sharing, including allowable data sharing at the local level, when appropriate and allowable under state and federal law
- Address school safety program challenges in a coordinated way
Meetings and Updates
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 - 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Check back for meeting materials.
The SSWG had formed six committees to continue their work. This link will take you to a description and update on those committees. July 19, 2023
Members
Stan Hilkey, Chair, Department of Public Safety
Christina Monaco, Vice-chair, Colorado Department of Education
Sgt. Nathan Businger, Moffat County Sheriff's Office
Chris Brunette, Division of Fire Prevention & Control
John Castillo, School Safety Advocate, Kendrick Castillo's father
Cheri Gerou, Office of the State Architect
Chris Harms, School Safety Resource Center
Chief Dave Hayes, Estes Park Police Department
Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Department of Public Health & Environment
Bret Miles, Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE)
Gretchen Russo, Department of Human Services