Davidson Middle School Safety Update

Posted Date: 9/17/24 (6:17 PM)

Dear Davidson Community,

I want to follow up on Principal Stachon's weekly bulletin message about school safety. We understand that school safety is on the minds of students, families and staff. It is also on our minds and in the actions we are committed to taking to keep our schools safe.

We are aware that messages regarding school violence have been recently circulating among the student body and on social media. I assure you that any reports of threats or perceived threats are taken very seriously, and law enforcement is notified immediately. We have actively partnered with the San Rafael Police Department on rumors of violence. After thorough investigations, it has been confirmed that there is no credible threat to Davidson or any SRCS school. Moving forward, please be assured that we will investigate any threat in coordination with the SRPD and if necessary, we will take immediate action and keep you informed.

Your vigilance helps keep our community safe. If students see or have information regarding something dangerous or unsafe, they should immediately report it to an adult. It is our goal that all students model, "If you see something, say something." We also want to emphasize the importance of discussing responsible social media use with your children and the dangers of spreading rumors. We understand the anxiety any threat can cause. Please know that our top priority is our students' and staff's safety and well-being.

We also want to update you on recent student fights and physical altercations. You may be aware that there were incidents both on campus and off campus last week, including a physical altercation during lunch on Thursday involving many students. Working with the District and school administration, and with support from the SRPD, we began the investigation based on our initial information, and took appropriate disciplinary action. This continues to be an ongoing investigation; we are learning more nuanced information that we are addressing, which may lead to other consequences, either restorative or punitive, as appropriate. While privacy laws prohibit us from sharing the specific disciplinary consequences, note that we will always follow the SRCS Student Behavior Intervention and Discipline Matrix [English | Spanish] when determining how to hold those involved accountable, in addition to any potential resulting police charges. In this circumstance, as in any, when students have conflicts, we seek to put a stop to it and prevent it from happening again.

Through multiple conversations with those in our community, it is becoming clear that incidents of violence are unfortunately on the rise in our area, mirroring challenges faced in many communities. This unacceptable behavior is also spilling over into our schools, and I want to emphasize that we take steps to immediately investigate and address any issue. We are grateful for our continued collaboration with the SRPD; our partnership is key to keeping our communities and schools safe.

Fighting and acts of violence and hatred are not tolerated at Davidson. We take any and all reports of threats or violence seriously, and we are making every effort to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment for all. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Carmen Diaz Ghysels
Superintendent

San Rafael City Schools

www.srcs.org | communications@srcs.org

310 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903