THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MICHAEL). BURKE FRANK A. BARBIERI, JR., ESQ, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL SUPERINTENDENT BOARD CHAIRMAN OFFICE oF tHe SUPERINTENDENT KAREN M. BRILL 3300 FOREST HIL BOULEVARD, C-316 BOARD Vice CHAIR (West Pum BEACH, FL 33406-5869 MARCIA ANDREWS PHONE: $61-649-6833 / Fax: 561-649-6837 ALEXANDRIA AYALA, HOW. PALMIBEACHSCHOOLS.ORG BARBARA MCQUINN DEBRA L. ROBINSON, M.D. ERICA WHITFIELD ‘August 30, 2022 Timothy Hay, Executive Director Office of Safe Schools 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1302 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 Dear Mr. Hay: | am in receipt of your letter dated August 29, 2022 regarding the Final Report of the Twentieth Statewide Grand Jury. In the letter, you identify your concerns abaut some of the items mentioned in the Report and that you believe “that some of the policies and actions the Grand Jury found are ongoing and require immediate action.” The safety and security of our students and employees is a paramount duty of the School District. We take a multifaceted approach to school safety which begins with prevention, intervention, and diversion, Thus, we agree that the Statewide Grand Jury findings must be given significant attention as safety and security is an ongoing and continual facus of the School District ‘of Palm Beach County. Points identified in your letter, other than the bullets related to the District's hiring of a private security firm (Invictus), are themes found by the Statewide Grand Jury to have statewide applicability, but were not identified in any of the Grand Jury's Interim Reports or Final Report as concerns in Palm Beach County. The Schoo! District of Palm Beach County has and continues to consistently adhere to school safety laws and accurate reporting of criminal activity to the Florida Department of Education. We also continue to implement enhanced security measures and further harden our campuses. ‘As always, we appreciate your support and look forward to meeting with you on Friday, September 2, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. We are sure that you will find that the School District of Palm Beach County takes the safety of our students, employees, and community seriously and that we actively take steps to enhance and secure our campuses, as well as collaborate with local law enforcement for District-wide protection. Ifyou need any information before Friday or would lke for the District to specifically prepare any information to present to you on Friday, please let us know so we may provide or begin preparations. Thank you for your attention to the critical matter of school safety. Sincerely, MAM. Michael J. Burke Superintendent ‘The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida A Top High-Performing A-Rated School District ‘An Equal Opportunity Education Provider and Employer