We hope you have had a great start to the 2023-24 school year. We’re glad to have you in the Newport-Mesa family. As part of our commitment to prioritize safety we would like to update you on a few safety initiatives. 

LOBBY SECURITY SYSTEMS 

We invite and welcome our community to our schools and to enhance the safety of students, staff and visitors, we are installing front lobby security systems, which include a camera doorbell and intercom system. Installation has been completed at the Harper Assessment Center and all schools (with the exception of Newport Harbor High School, which will be completed in September, and the Education Center, which will be completed at a later date).

The lobby security systems are pending technology integration to be fully activated, which is anticipated in the fall. Front office staff will be trained on how to monitor and use the new lobby security system. 

We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we realize that this may slow down access to our schools and district facilities. However, safety outweighs the slight inconvenience. 

SECURITY CAMERAS 

Security camera installation continued throughout the summer at various schools. Cameras are being installed along school perimeters and entrances.

Installation of security cameras has been completed at the following schools:

• Corona del Mar Middle/High School
• Costa Mesa High School 
• Davis Magnet School
• Ensign Intermediate School
• Estancia High School 
• Newport Elementary
• Rea Elementary

The BESST Center also has cameras installed and Newport Harbor High School camera installation is expected to be completed in September. 

Signs are posted on campus and District facilities that have implemented security systems. Cameras will not be placed in classrooms, or areas where students, staff, or community members have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Video recordings may be used for disciplinary proceedings and matters captured by the camera may be referred to local law enforcement as appropriate.

Additional school camera installations will be determined in coordination with recommendations from the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) physical security assessment report and finalization of district security standards. 

PHYSICAL SECURITY 

In partnership with local law enforcement, the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) has completed physical security assessments of our schools to identify potential opportunities to physically enhance safety measures. A final report, which is expected to be completed in September, will include findings and prioritize next steps to improve the physical security of our sites.

STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL (SRP) - “I LOVE U GUYS” 

All schools have implemented the “I Love You Guys” Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which is a uniform, planned and practiced response to an incident. It defines the five actions to take in an emergency: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter.

All staff have been trained in the SRP actions with student training also planned for the start of the 2023-24 school year, as well as ongoing retraining for staff and students throughout the year. 

In collaboration with local law enforcement and school resource officers (SROs), safety drills will use this common language surrounding school safety: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter. 

Please familiarize yourself with these five actions so that in the event of an emergency, you have a clear understanding of the action being taken to support immediate safety efforts. Corresponding signage with description of the five safety actions will be displayed throughout our schools.

WETIP 2.0 

NMUSD has partnered with WeTip 2.0, a 24-hour anonymous reporting system (tip line) through which suspicious activity and safety concerns at secondary schools can be reported via phone, text and an online form. WeTip is available in multiple languages.  

Tip categories include:

• Bullying 
• Concern For Self or Others Report
• Discrimination or Harassment Report
• Physical Abuse & Misconduct Report
• Threat to School or Students Report
• Tip Report (Other)
• Vandalism Report

Learn more on the NMUSD WeTip webpage.

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

Centegix: Newport Harbor High School and Davis Magnet School will continue to pilot the Centegix emergency alert system during the 2023-24 school year. The system allows employees to notify the appropriate people of an emergency to initiate any of the five SRP response actions. 

Titan: Newport and Eastbluff Elementary Schools, and Estancia High School will start a pilot of the Titan Emergency Communication System this school year. Employees have been trained on the communication system and installation of hardware will be completed in the upcoming weeks.

Visit the NMUSD safety webpage for additional information or contact your school administration.