School and District Safety
About
SBCEO provides leadership and guidance to schools and districts in the development and implementation of Comprehensive School Safety Plans, behavioral threat assessment protocols, and emergency response procedures. A dedicated School Safety Liaison facilitates coordination among schools, law enforcement, and community partners, enabling consistent and effective responses to school safety concerns and crises countywide.
Contacts
Bridget Baublits
Associate Superintendent
Student and Community Services
bbaublits@sbceo.org
(805) 964-4710, ext. 5265
Dennis Thomas
School Safety Liaison
Student and Community Services
(805) 964-4710, ext. 5302
cell: 805-896-6462
Camie Barnwell
Director
Communications & Public Information Officer
(805) 964-4710, ext. 5282
cell: 805-696-0064
Michelle Sakai-Hart
Administrative Assistant
Student and Community Services
msakaihart@sbceo.org
(805) 964-4710, ext. 5477
Comprehensive School Safety Plan
The California Education Code (sections 32280-32288) outlines the requirements of all public school districts operating any schools (including charter schools), serving grades kindergarten through 12 to write and develop a Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) that includes strategies to prevent and educate about potential incidents involving crime and violence on school campuses.
The following resources are intended to assist Santa Barbara County School Districts with their school safety plans. These resources were last revised in April 2025.
CSSP Resources
Standard Response Protocols
Countywide, all school districts and law enforcement agencies have adopted a common emergency response language known as the Standard Response Protocols (SRPs) - which refers to five specific actions that may be called during an emergency or unsafe incident near or on a school campus. Watch this brief video below to learn more about the five SRP actions:
The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) provides guidance to schools and first responders to facilitate clear and consistent emergency response actions. The SRP is not a replacement for any school safety plan or protocol. It is a response enhancement to critical incidents, designed to provide clear, consistent language and actions among all staff, students and first responders.
SRP Resources
Standard Reunification Method
Santa Barbara County representatives from preschools, public and private schools, police and fire, mental health, after-school
programs, the Office of Emergency Management, and other agencies came together in the Fall of 2024 to train on the Standard Reunification Method (SRM). Watch the video below to learn more about the SRM.
One critical aspect of crisis response is creating accountable reunification of students with their parents or guardians following an emergency incident. The Standard Reunification Method provides school and district safety teams with proven methods for planning, practicing, and achieving a successful reunification process.