Ashley Castillo described the chaos that ensued at Hollywood High School in September when police received a false report of an active shooter — a phenomenon known as “swatting.” Miscommunication between law enforcement agencies and the school created pandemonium after police received the false report, Castillo said. Students in her classroom didn’t know what to do when the school principal announced that the school was going into lockdown, Castillo said.
Students also recommended that communication be improved between schools and other agencies, including law enforcement. Board member James J. McQuillen suggested that restorative practices be considered as a part of the complaint procedure. Board member Haydee Rodriguez asked whether there would be safeguards to protect against students who might want to weaponize the complaint process.
Gwen Singer, a senior at Van Nuys High School, said most of what students learn about civics comes during one semester of their senior year. That’s too little and too late, she said. She said it is especially important in this era of political polarization that students have nonpartisan, credible information about what it means to be a voter or a civically engaged citizen.