General (06)
Susana Barrios
From:durfeycraig778@gmail.com
Sent:Saturday, 11:55 AM
To:'communityrelations'; ocbe@ocde.us; REPLOUCORREA@MAIL.HOUSE.GOV;
Early childhoodK-12 schools Higher education Meet the team
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
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09-19-2024
(P.R.D.D.C.)
PARENTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN
CRAIG A. DURFEY FOUNDER OF P.R.D.D.C.
SOCIALEMOTIONALPAWS.COM
FACEBOOK: CRAIG DURFEY
U.S. HOUSE OF CONGRESS H2404 - HONORING CRAIG DURFEY FOR HIS FIGHT AGAINST AUTISM
... Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-03-27/pdf/CREC-2003-03-27.pdf
new website socialemotionalpaws.org
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To whom it may concern.
EDUCATION HUB Early childhoodK-12 schoolsHigher educationMeet the team
How do Maryland schools stop
guns from getting inside?
A parent sat down in front of the Baltimore County school board last week,
prepared to talk about how her daughter was stabbed in a Baltimore County high
school in January 2023. https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-
schools/maryland-schools-gun-violence-prevention-
JAG4HOSRQNCODNVYWAXAYHOOSM/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email
&utm_campaign=Issue:%202024-09-19%20K-
12%20Dive%20%5Bissue:66010%5D&utm_term=K-12%20Dive
The board chair cut her off when she started naming students and describing
violence, a violation of board policy. But the parent persisted, instead citing
concerns about how many school shootings, like
in Georgia, Nebraska and Harford County, have already occurred this school year.
“School safety needs to change,” she said before she stormed out of the meeting.
“My daughter almost died. You can understand why I’m upset.”
Parents across Maryland have been calling for more safety measures, especially
in Harford County after 15-year-old Warren Curtis Grant was fatally shot Sept. 6 at
Joppatowne High School. Although shootings inside schools are a rare
occurrence in Maryland, weapons, even guns, still find their way onto school
grounds.
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Learn More
It’s not something school systems take lightly. They’ve been beefing up security
and investing in mental health resources. A couple have taken it a step further by
purchasing technology to detect weapons.
Here’s a look at how school districts in Central Maryland are addressing school
safety:
READ MORE
After fatal shooting, Joppatowne High bans backpacks until new lockers are
available
Sep 12, 2024
16-year-old fatally shot fellow student after fight at Harford County high school,
authorities say
Sep 6, 2024
How many guns have been found in schools?
Most Central Maryland school districts report that guns found on school grounds
were in the single digits last year. Baltimore City reported the most last year,
20. Both the city and Baltimore County have found two guns already this school
year.
Having a firearm at school can get a student expelled for at least one calendar
year, according to school handbooks.
The consequences for students found with other weapons can range from
suspensions to expulsions, giving discretion to school leaders.
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There were hundreds of instances in which students were suspended or expelled
for bringing weapons to campus during the 2022-2023 school year, the latest time
state data are available.
What are the latest tools to detect guns in schools?
Baltimore County recently installed Omnilert in all schools. It’s an artificial
intelligence software used on existing school cameras that searches image
frames for people and the objects surrounding them. If a gun is detected, an alert
is sent to the appropriate personnel, including police.
The district is also enhancing security at athletic events with a program
called Open Gate. Like Omnilert, it uses technology to screen everyone who
enters the school facility for weapons.
“This system allows for a smoother and faster entry process while maintaining
the highest standards of safety,” a Sept. 5 news release stated.
Baltimore City also recently installed a weapons detection system. It’s called
Evolv, and the district said in a statement that it’s “working as intended.”
The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Evolv was met with skepticism when it was discussed at a city school board
meeting in 2022, but the AI system, set up like metal detectors that students
must walk through, was in six high schools in May, reported WYPR. Now it’s in
every high school.
Trial runs showed that of 17,000 alerts sent by Evolv, only 10 resulted in actual
weapons, the station reported.
The school system’s website states that the tech uses “low frequency radio
waves” to identify possible weapons on students, and it received strong support
from schools that tested them. In a statement, the districts said Evolv helped
identify some of the guns found last school year.
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What other security measures are schools using?
School safety is fresh on the minds of the Harford County community, though
decisions like installing metal detectors haven’t been made yet. It’s something
community members have called for in the form of a petition that over 4,000
people have signed. Superintendent Sean Bulson said they’ve received many
suggestions and offers of help, including from state leaders. Right now, the
school system is still figuring out how to utilize that support to “heighten
security.”
They did decide, however, to install lockers at Joppatowne High School where
Warren Curtis Grant was shot and killed. Not everyone had a locker, and students
could carry their book bags around the school. That will no longer be the case.
Lockers are supposed to be installed by this week, and students must carry their
books until then.
The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Some Baltimore schools have metal detectors, and the school district has its own
police department. Howard County does not want to publicize its safety plans, a
spokesperson said, but its website layouts protocols like locking exterior doors
during the school day.
What kind of mental health support are students getting?
Good mental health is not the sole cure to gun violence, the National Alliance on
Mental Illness reports. But the American School Counselor Association says a
school with responsive counseling services is the “most positive protection” for
students.
In the last five years, Anne Arundel County has added 92 positions focusing on
social emotional wellness: 36 school counselors, 22.5 school psychologists, 27.5
social workers and six pupil personnel workers, said Bob Mosier, spokesperson
for the school system.
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Its student-to-counselor ratio now stands at 350 to 1, still much higher than the
school counselor association recommends.
Schools can’t tackle that issue alone, Mosier said; the community must step up
and help.
The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.
“While not dodging the responsibility of schools at all, the proliferation of guns in
schools is a society issue that has landed itself on the doorsteps of schools,”
he said. “Schools very clearly play a part ... but the single biggest factor on
campus is to stop them from coming in the schools in the first place.”
Superintendent Mark Bedell found a way to get the community involved through
the #BePresent initiative, launched in January 2023. It calls on parents,
community members, business leaders and alumni to be inside school buildings
to establish relationships with students and be another set of eyes for
administrators.
There’s also the mentorship program Bedell launched in July 2023, a method
the National Institutes of Health say can prevent youth violence. Anne Arundel
provides students with an adult who can support them through academic
achievement and social emotional learning. Family members, school staff, civic
and faith groups and other members of the community can apply to participate.
According to Mosier, 550 volunteers participate, and it’s continuing to grow.
Baltimore County Public Schools also invested in mental health programs
with Talkspace. It’s a free teletherapy service high schoolers in the district have
access to.
Baltimore Banner reporter Jess Nocera contributed to this article.
About the Education Hub
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This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded
journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions
about how their children learn. Read more.
7
Susana Barrios
From:Craig A Durfey <cadurfey@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, September
To:Craig Durfey; Teresa Pomeroy; 'PIO Department'; Public Records Request; Devon
rise in reports
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
I thought you would be interested in this story I found on MSN: Montgomery schools revises protocols for
alleged hate incidents amid rise in reports - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/montgomery-
schools-revises-protocols-for-alleged-hate-incidents-amid-rise-in-reports/ar-
AA1qXopI?ocid=socialshare
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Susana Barrios
From:Craig A Durfey <cadurfey@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, September
To:Craig Durfey; Teresa Pomeroy; Nick Dibs; 'PIO Department'; Public Records Request;
Media Content For Minors
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
I thought you would be interested in this story I found on MSN: California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Law
Banning “Addictive” Social Media Content For Minors - https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-
buzz/california-gov-gavin-newsom-signs-law-banning-addictive-social-media-content-for-minors/ar-
AA1qXZeQ?ocid=socialshare
1
Susana Barrios
From:Craig A Durfey <cadurfey@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, September
To:Craig Durfey; Teresa Pomeroy; Nick Dibs; 'PIO Department'; Public Records Request;
authorities say
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
Check out this site - https://abc7.com/post/threats-schools-la-verne-san-dimas-burbank-north-
hollywood-not-credible-authorities-say/15315990/
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Susana Barrios
From:Craig A Durfey <cadurfey@gmail.com>
Sent:Sunday, September
To:Craig Durfey; Teresa Pomeroy; Nick Dibs; 'PIO Department'; Public Records Request;
Social Media After Apalachee Shooting
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
Check out this article:
https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/news/school-shooting-threats-skyrocket-on-social-media-
after-apalachee-shooting/161787/
1
Susana Barrios
From:Craig A Durfey <cadurfey@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, September
To:fgozalez@ocsheriff.gov; Don Barnes; Devon Atkinson; ggpdpio@ggcity.org;
Attachments:Durfey, Craig Response Letter.pdf; SB-796 Threats schools and places of
worship.(2023-2024).pdf; HR 28, as amended, Dababneh..pdf
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Completed
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
09-23-2024
Submitting rescerah segments about school violence many years of study, the links below from my
website https://socialemotionalpaws.com/ blog post.will assist this growing issue with school safety.
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https://socialemotionalpaws.com/blog-post-1/f/korea-sees-surge-in-school-violence-despite-
education-ministrys
https://socialemotionalpaws.com/blog-post-1/f/violence-threats-and-harassment-are-taking-a-toll-on-
teachers
https://socialemotionalpaws.com/blog-post-1/f/youth-risk-behavior-surveillance-system
https://socialemotionalpaws.com/blog-post-1/f/screen-time-activities-and-aggressive-behaviors-
among-children-an
https://socialemotionalpaws.com/blog-post-1/f/cdc-finds-early-signs-of-mental-health-improvement-
among-teens
Thank You
Craig Durfey
---------- Forwarded message ---------
School Violence Prevention.pdf
From: Ryan Grossi <RyanG@auditor.ca.gov>
Date: Fri, Sep 20, 2024 at 5:31 PM
Subject: California State Auditor's Office - Information Request
To:
Dear Mr. Durfey,
Please access the attached document that responds to the California Public Records Act request that
you submitted to the California State Auditor’s Office.
Thank you,
Ryan Grossi
Policy and Communications Specialist
CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR
2
621 Capitol Mall, Ste. 1200, Sacramento, CA 95814
t 916.445.0255 | f 916.327.0019
Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including any
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s)
and may contain confidential and privileged information,
including information pertaining to an ongoing audit or
investigation (see Cal. Gov. C. Secs. 8545, 8545.1 and
8547). Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or
distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended
recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and
destroy all copies of the original message.
The
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California State Auditor Secure Email
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[SENT VIA EMAIL TO:
September 20, 2024
Dear Mr. Durfey:
On September 10, 2024, you contacted the California State Auditor’s Office (Office) to request information
related to our published audits. Specifically you inquired about the status of our audit reports related to
school violence prevention, and whether the recommendations that we made in previous audits have
been implemented.
Our most-recent audit report concerning the topic of “school violence prevention” as requested by the
Joint Legislative Audit Committee was published on August 31, 2017, in a report entitled: School Violence
Prevention: School Districts, County Offices of Education, and the State Must Do More to Ensure That
School Safety Plans Help Protect Students and Staff During Emergencies (Audit Report 2016-136). As with
all of our publications, this audit report is available in electronic form on our website here:
https://information.auditor.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2016-136.pdf. If you are interested in obtaining a
hardcopy of this report, our office can provide five (5) copies free of charge. Please provide our office
with a physical address so we can mail the reports to you.
Regarding the status of the implementation of the recommendations made in our audit reports, when an
audit is completed and a report is issued, auditees must provide the State Auditor with information
regarding their progress in implementing recommendations from our reports at three intervals from the
release of the report: 60 days, six months, and one year. Additionally, state law, requires auditees who
have not implemented recommendations after one year, to report to us and to the Legislature why they
have not implemented them or to state when they intend to implement them. You can access the status
of the recommendations related to the above-mentioned audit report (2016-136) on our website here:
https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports/recommendations/2016-136. In addition, you specifically
requested that our office provide electronic links directly to the status of each recommendation that we
made in the report. For your convenience, we have itemized the recommendations made to each entity
in the list below:
Recommendations to the California State Legislature
• Recommendation 1
• Recommendation 2
• Recommendation 3
• Recommendation 4
Mr. Durfey
September 20, 2024
Page 2
Recommendations to the California Department of Education
• Recommendation 5
• Recommendation 6
• Recommendation 7
• Recommendation 8
Recommendation to the California Department of Justice
• Recommendation 9
Recommendation to the Kern County Office of Education
• Recommendation 10
Recommendation to the Placer County Office of Education
• Recommendation 11
Recommendation to the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
• Recommendation 12
Recommendation to the San Bernardino City Unified School District
• Recommendation 13
Finally, as indicated above, all audit and investigative reports published by the California State Auditor’s
Office can be accessed on our website. For reports issued in 2024, visit www.auditor.ca.gov/reports, and
for reports published between 1993-2023, please visit https://information.auditor.ca.gov/reports. You
can search our reports by key words using free form text, policy area, issue date, agency/auditee, or report
title, among other options. We thank you for your patience during this process. If you have any questions
concerning your request, please feel free to contact me at (916) 445-0255.
Sincerely,
DANA SIMAS
Chief of Communications