Work was still being completed late last week and into early this week, but as many as 35 surveillance cameras are installed or in the process of being installed across Sequim school campuses.

And more security measures are on the way.

Community members can get an update on these upgrades and more when Sequim School District staff host a follow-up to a fall safety forum at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Sequim High School library, 601 N. Sequim Ave.

District leaders will be sharing details of installation of cameras, as well as future security upgrades and safety training that staffers have received.

Each school has added some surveillance cameras, Sequim schools superintendent Regan Nickels said last week.

“It’s campus-wide coverage; every [school] campus has received installment,” she said.

A second “layer” of surveillance cameras will be added at schools that focus on interior areas,” she said.

The district is looking into more security upgrades as well.

“We’re really looking at insurance controls [such as] key card access, things out on the market that we can review,” Nickels said.

District leaders hope to train not only staff but students to help improve safety at Sequim schools, including spotting “indicators for need [and] emotional support,” Nickels said.

School year start graffiti, response

Police officers believe at least one juvenile tagged threatening graffiti on Helen Haller Elementary and the Middle School on or before Sept. 4. The messages included “be ready” written next to a swastika, a second larger swastika, and “Sandy hook 2” — referring to the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Since the Sept. 4 graffiti incident, district staff have re-prioritized facility projects to include safety measures sooner following feedback from families.

More derogatory and hateful graffiti was found at Sequim Middle School on Oct. 23.

In mid-December, school district officials acknowledged an incident involving threatening texts received by a Sequim Middle School student authored by another SMS student who was not on campus.

“We are confident that the threat has been contained to an individual who is being addressed by law enforcement,” Nickels wrote in a message to Sequim students on Dec. 14.

“Our students did the right thing today. Students who knew something, said something. Students reported the threatening texts to a staff member. The content of the texts included reference to a gun that could be brought to school and a potential fight. This was immediately referred to school administration and the Sequim Police Department.

“Threats of such a nature will not be tolerated.”

On Jan. 5, school officials let parents know about another incident that involved another off-campus incident involving a student. According to a message sent to parents/guardians of Sequim students, a “concerning” Snapchat message was received or viewed by some Sequim Middle School students, authored by fellow SMS student who was not on campus. The message, district officials noted, reportedly read: “Does anyone have a gun I can borrow?”

In a message to parents, Nickels, wrote, “There is currently no evidence of a school-related threat associated with this Snapchat message and Sequim [Police] has verified the student’s location off-campus. However, due to the concerning nature of the message, we are sharing this notice.”

School schedules operated as usual on all campuses, school leaders noted.

“Once again, our middle school students did the right thing,” Nickels wrote. “Multiple students reported the Snapchat to school authorities. This message was immediately referred to the full school administration team and the Sequim Police Department.

“The theme of ‘If you see something, say something’ was at play once again today and worked. I commend our students for coming forward.”

Nickels said that message seems to be resounding with students and parents alike.

“The communications to parents has become as transparent as we can make them,” she said in an interview. “I hope parents are having these conversations.

“We’ve had contact from parents that students have informed them (about incidents), too.”

She said the district is considering times such as home room and advisory meeting sessions to further connect with students, particularly to emphasize how to help their peers if they see concerning behavior.

“We know that peer interaction is the most significant [connection,” Nickels said.

For more about safety at the Sequim School District, call the district office at 360-582-3260 or email Nickels at rnickels@sequimschools.org.