Secure campuses and school safety must be the first priority of school principals and district officials. Repeated news stories of school violence cannot be allowed to consume students and parents with fear, paralyzing the learning process.

The common thread in almost every incident of school violence in the last few years is the ongoing problem of bullying. To successfully address the problem of student violence, educators must deal with its root problems. Jim Barr will initiate a plan that will train and empower teachers to be proactive, to identify the patterns of frustration in at-risk students, and to intervene before frustrations escalate into violence.

Every specific policy must be part of the bigger picture of school safety. Bay District's safety plans must be consistent, clearly understandable, and reasonably enforced.