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Safety & Security

Our Community-Oriented Approach to School Safety 

At Charlottesville City Schools, our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. Experts from the fields of school security, mental health, and public safety agree that the foundation of school safety is a commitment to wellness and a positive school culture.

Our safety model focuses on:

  • Community-building and relationship-building
  • Mental health supports
  • Care and Safety Assistants
  • Community partnerships, including with the police
  • Continual investment in building security upgrades

 

Note: Beginning in August 2026, school resource officers will return to our schools. Learn more and share your feedback about our draft agreement with the Charlottesville Police Department.

Elements of Our Safety Model

How Families Can Promote School Safety

  • Support Mental Health: If anyone in your family needs extra support, call your school or email your school counselor. We partner with Care Solace, a free service that sets up mental health appointments for students, staff, and families. Call 888-515-0595 for assistance 24/7 in any language. For immediate help, call 911 or go to the hospital. Find more options on our Counseling Page.
  • Stay Connected with ParentSquare: Make sure school staff can reach you for everyday updates and during emergencies. We use ParentSquare for all our school-related communications, including any safety alerts. Download the ParentSquare app or log in on ParentSquare. ParentSquare works without the app, but the app (or web login) provides the best experience. Find more at our ParentSquare page.
  • Store Medicines and Guns Safely: Region 10 offers information and free storage equipment. And “talk safety” with family and friends about mental health, medicine and gun storage, and substance abuse.
  • Be Our Partner in School Security: Remind your student, “If you see something, say something.” Our approach to school safety is community-oriented: Informed by experts in school safety, our model prioritizes relationships, mental health supports, upgrades to building security, our care & safety assistants, and our community partners, including the police. Find more on this page.
  • Exercise Student Rights and Responsibilities: Please review behavior expectations (the schools’ and your own) with your student. Our revised Student Rights and Responsibilities (formerly the Code of Student Conduct) describes the schools’ expectations for behavior and outlines possible consequences for when they are not met. It also provides guidance for bus-riders. To receive a copy, visit or call your school or find it on our Student Conduct page.

Care and Safety Assistants (CSA)

Care and Safety Assistants (CSAs) are Charlottesville Schools employees who are certified school safety officers trained in areas such as de-escalation, teen mental health first aid, safety procedures, and more.

CSAs are “more mentor than muscle”--they have deep relationships to our schools and families. They provide an extra set of eyes and ears in the hallways and in oversight of safety practices. 

They receive training from Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) on topics such as student behavioral dynamics; collective and vicarious trauma; suicide intervention; and emergency response. They also receive training in de-escalation and cultural sensitivity. 

CSAs are staffed at CHS, CMS, Walker, and Lugo-McGinness.

Building Security

Our division makes continual investment in building security upgrades, including infrastructure and protocols.

Security Infrastructure

  • Classroom security door locks
  • Key control & management
  • Visitor management systems (buzz-in and sign-in systems, vestibules)
  • Building-wide access control
  • Glass enhancements
  • Video cameras
  • Lighting

Security Protocols

  • Divisionwide school visitor protocols: All visitors must have photo ID scanned prior to entrance and wear badge for entirety of visit. 
  • Protocols for public, ticketed events:
    • Clear bags only
    • Weapons detection: Where we expect 250+ spectators at a public, ticketed event, the division will utilize Ceia Opengate weapons detectors

Clear Bag Policy & Weapons Detection for CHS Ticketed Events

In keeping with other area venues’ safety practices, Charlottesville High School maintains a clear bag procedure at all school-sponsored ticketed events. This impacts events at locations such as Theodose Stadium, the Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center, the Black Box Theatre, and both gymnasiums.

In addition, we use a metal detector system for ticketed events with an expected attendance of 250 or more.

  • Across the country, clear bag policies are being implemented as a way of keeping fans and attendees safer, while also expediting entry into events. It will limit the type of bags that spectators or audience members bring into ticketed events, with some exceptions for medical or childcare needs. Event staff, with the support of school administrators, will implement this procedure at event entrances.

    Clear bags that allow all contents to be seen will be permitted. There are no limits on bag size or style as long as it is a clear, see-through container. Unless the bag is clear, spectators cannot bring bags such as the following: backpacks, camera bags, cinch bags, purses, fanny packs, coolers, and computer bags.

    We will post signage in parking areas as a reminder since other types of bags will need to be returned to the car or another safe location during the event.

    Students, game officials, media, and other professionals who are participating in the ticketed event will be permitted to take their equipment bags and other personal bags into the locker room or other designated spaces.

    Thanks for your support as we work to keep our students, staff, families, and community as safe as possible. “Clearly,” your safety is important to us! Go Black Knights!

For More Information

Todd KooglerTodd Koogler
Coordinator of Safety and Security
kooglew1@charlottesvilleschools.org
(434) 245-2421