All BHUSD campuses will be closed to the general public during instructional hours and school-sponsored events. (photo by Tabor Brewster)

The Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education on April 28 approved the first reading of a new security policy meant to streamline and boost security measures across all district campuses. The policy was proposed by BHUSD Board President Judy Manouchehri, and limits who can access school campuses. The policy was introduced ahead of the May 8 opening of Metro’s Wilshire/La Cienega D Line station, located four blocks east of Horace Mann Elementary School.

“For everybody sitting up here on the dais and particularly the BHUSD Board of Education, the safety of our staff and our students is the first thing on our mind and the last thing on our mind every day. A lot of families are anticipating the ramifications of the Metro opening,” Manouchehri said. “I do not believe our school facilities are the equivalent of public parks, and in my opinion the policy that I have put forth clarifies that our campuses would be closed campuses with controlled access.”

While the district already required parents and visitors to check-in upon entry to campuses during the school day, BHUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss said that the security measures were lacking during after school hours and weekends.

“The dog parks here are more secure than our campuses on weekends, and we don’t necessarily expect for that to be a reality and it is,” Cherniss said. “So we’re going to change things. We’re going to tighten things up after-hours. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to restrict the community, it just means that the community is going to feel safer on our campus.”

The new policy is meant to provide consistent regulations for all people entering campuses during all hours of the day. It establishes that schools are closed to the general public during instructional hours and school-sponsored events. Access will be limited to students and their siblings, parents and guardians, employees, authorized contractors, vendors and service people, pre-approved visitors with a school-related purpose and Beverly Hills elected officials, including members of the BHUSD Board of Education and City Council. Additionally, the policy requires all visitors to present an ID, to be screened upon entry and wear an identifying badge.

The policy received support from board members, who approved it in a 4-0 vote. Board member Rachelle Marcus was not present for the vote.

“Stepping on any of our campuses should be one of the most difficult things that you can do,” board member Russell Stuart said. “We’ve been waiting for this subway for 15 years. Well guess what? Now it’s here. For much of the parents and community members that dislike it, including myself, it’s a reality. But what we can do is be proactive and put in the security measures that to some might seem a bit extreme. But once they get used to it … they will see that while other places are being robbed, or with homeless out in front of them, and we are not, that the proof is going to be in the pudding very quickly.”

“In this day and age, we need to be parsimonious and conservative with our measures … we can always cut back,” board member Amanda Stern said. “I think there’s no one who feels that this would be too severe on any level.”

The policy also received support from Horace Mann parent David Cienfuegos during the public comment period.

“I wanted to come just to say thank you to all the members of the board for taking the initiative and putting this on the forefront of your agenda, because this is a topic of much concern to not just the parents but the general members of the community,” Cienfuegos said. “The safety of our children is of the utmost importance, and I think by bringing this to the attention of the board right now I think is absolutely wonderful.”

The approval of the streamlined security policy followed a recent discussion on the district’s policy on guest speakers invited to campuses by student-led groups. The guest speaker discussion was held after controversial online influencer Ben Azoulay visited Beverly Hills High School’s Israel Club, sparking outrage from parents. The board has not yet approved a separate policy on guest speakers, and the topic will return to the board at a later date.