Editorial: Report on Novato school safety valuable for all Marin districts

County grand juries are court-empaneled groups of citizens who take a deep dive into civic issues.

The 2024-25 Marin County Civil Grand Jury has done exactly that with its report about security on Novato’s public school campuses.

Its investigation – “Feeling Safe at School – Let’s Get Educated” – centers on a 2024 assault at Sinaloa Middle School in which two students were attacked and eight students were arrested. Students were texted on their smartphones detailing the time and location of the planned assaults. More than 300 students ran through the school grounds to watch the fight – on two consecutive days. Afterward, videos of the assault were posted on social media.

According to the report, students are supposed to turn their phones off while on campus.

The incidents were far from the peaceful collection of students diligently focusing on their studies, which is the expectation when kids leave the house for school.

The district promptly took action, but the grand jury found other issues that needed to be addressed.

Novato police were not contacted about the attack by school officials. A parent called the police after the assault had already started.

The district has taken steps to resolve that glaring gap in communication.

The investigation also stressed that while the district has taken measures aimed at improving campus safety, it can do more.

“While the NUSD has made a good start, the Grand Jury is asking the NUSD to do more by extending and maintaining a clearer focus on consistency and training around discipline, using their security resources more effectively, and improving communication,” the report states.

One of the grand jury’s findings is that “inconsistent use of available security-related resources and the lack of enforcement of smartphone restrictions contributed to a failure to prevent physical injury of students leading up to, and during, a 2024 fight at Sinaloa Middle School.”

The district has already taken steps ahead of the grand jury releasing its report.

For instance, it has begun having the superintendent respond to issues raised in open public time during school board meetings.

The Brown Act prohibits the school board from discussing matters that are not on the publicly posted agenda, but issues raised during open time can be referred to staff.

The law forbidding a full-blown official discussion is to assure that the public has advanced notice about what issues will be discussed or action to be taken at the board meetings.

But the grand jury felt that the board’s previous practice of not addressing questions raised during “public” time was creating a public impression that they were being ignored. Now the superintendent, at subsequent board meetings, provides a report responding to those matters.

That’s an appropriate change, respectful of the time taken and concern expressed when a person addresses the board at a meeting.

Again, the grand jury praised the district for actions taken since the assault and showed there has been a marked downturn in such incidents.

A primary focus of the grand jury’s report is a need to consistently address safety issues with students, staff and parents; that school officials’ response to the 2024 incident was effective, but they must be part of diligent training and messaging. That includes annual training for teachers and administrators and making sure students are aware of discipline rules and possible consequences.

While the Novato board and superintendent will have a chance to respond to the grand jury’s report, other districts would be wise to read the grand jury’s report and findings as some of its recommendations may prove useful as they work to keep their students and faculty on their campuses as safe as possible – as safe as students and parents should expect and feel.