Last month, a student on his way to school was hit by a car and hospitalised, prompting an immediate response from the school administration, according to assistant principal Ernesto Guerrero.
While the school is responsible for all students during school hours in classrooms, much more is required as per district policy.
Many students may be unaware of the measures taken by Venice and the district as a whole to ensure their safety.
According to Dean of Students David Galley, obvious efforts include gating the complex in 2023 and stationing campus aids around the campus. However, it turns out Venice is also responsible for students when they are off campus on their ways to and from school.
“They call it ‘safe passage’,” Galley said. “The school’s jurisdiction begins the second the student leaves the house.”
LAUSD is obligated to ensure students make it to school safely every day and that they return home safely, too.
“We are responsible for students on their way to and from school,” said assistant principal Ernesto Guerrero. “The extent is within reason. We’re not going to go chasing kids.”
Numerous measures are in place to ensure safety, including supervisors, campus aids, school police, and Boys 2 Gentlemen, also known as B2G.
Formerly, school police were stationed directly on campus and were available for immediate response. In 2020 and in light of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, police were removed from on-campus stations.
B2G was founded by a retired police officer. Whilst LAUSD police still patrol the surrounding blocks, B2G now takes their place on the campus itself.
“B2G is a third-party vendor,” said Galley. “They’re here to help and act as mentors.”
The B2G main promise is its aim to provide “a holistic and proactive approach that aims to increase safety measures on and near school campuses, including safety education training and enrichment for students, parents, and community partners,” according to its website.
Galley also said how B2G is permitted more autonomy than regular aids. They occasionally even serve as crossing guards or escort student groups down the street.
Like all services, safe passage has its limits. The protection of the school is compromised should a student voluntarily leave campus during school hours.
While still responsible, the administration is no longer capable of providing the same guarantees, having neither the excess resources or time to individually ensure students are always under the shield of LAUSD.
