Superintendent's Message on School Safety

Borg Report August 29, 2025

As we prepare to welcome students back to school for the 2025-26 school year, there's a renewed sense of energy across our campuses. A new school year brings fresh opportunities for learning, connection and growth, and we’re excited to see students walk through our doors once again on Tuesday.

At the same time, the unimaginable tragedy at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis is weighing heavily on all of us, as I know it does on you. All of our hearts are with the children, families, educators and the entire Annunciation community during this time of enormous loss.

As a parent, I understand the deep trust you place in us each day when you send your children to school. I also know that no words can erase the fears that events like this bring to the surface. There is no perfect plan, no single solution that can prevent such tragedies from happening again.

But what I can say with absolute certainty is this: the safety of our students is, and always will be, our top priority at Westonka Public Schools. It’s a responsibility we all share, and one we never take lightly. 

That’s why I want to take a moment to share the steps we have taken to prioritize safety across all our school campuses. While no system is perfect, we are committed to continuous improvement and collaboration. School safety is not one thing - it’s many things working together, every single day.

A Multifaceted Approach to School Safety

Westonka Public Schools relies on a multifaceted approach to school safety that includes strong operational systems, close relationships, two-way communication, expert training, ongoing collaboration with local emergency responders, and secure and responsive facilities.

Strong Operational Systems - From the moment a student steps onto the bus until they return home, a network of systems is in place to help keep them safe. This includes everything from our student management tools to well-defined policies and procedures that help ensure we operate school and activities in a safe and organized way. Westonka's success in this area is a direct result of our dedicated and caring leadership team and staff, who consistently review and refine our processes to meet the needs of our students and community.

Relationships & Communication - One of Westonka’s key small school advantages is the close relationships we build with our school families. We prioritize getting to know each student and rely on these trusted connections every day to help keep our schools safe. We also work to foster a sense of belonging by encouraging student and parent involvement and engagement across all grade levels.

Our district’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework helps us proactively identify students’ academic, behavioral, and mental health needs and connect families with appropriate support services. Additionally, we encourage all members of the community—students, staff, parents and residents—to report any concerns shared at school, on social media, or in the community to a trusted staff member. Westonka High School also offers a Student Wellness and Safety Tip Line in Schoology for students to report non-emergency concerns. Open, proactive communication helps us address potential issues before they escalate.

Training & Drills - All Westonka schools conduct regular safety training and drills for staff and students, preparing them for a wide range of emergency situations. In compliance with Minnesota law, each school holds:

• 5 lockdown drills
• 5 fire drills
• 1 tornado drill

The drills help students better understand their environments and give them confidence to respond in an emergency situation. They also give staff opportunities to refine emergency plans and identify areas for improvement. We are proud that over 90% of Westonka middle and high school students report that they feel safe at school, which is a reflection of the comprehensive training and safety measures we have in place. 

New for the 2025-26 school year, Westonka Public Schools has implemented the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), a safety framework that standardizes emergency responses into five clear actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. More information is available on the district website: www.westonka.k12.mn.us/about-us/school-safety.

Law Enforcement Partnerships - Westonka Public Schools is fortunate to be served by the Orono and Minnetrista Police Departments and the Mound Fire Department. Our two School Resource Officers (SROs) are active members of the school community and regularly participate in safety planning, emergency drills, and ongoing preparedness efforts. They will have an increased presence next week to help ensure a safe and successful start to the school year.

Secure & Responsive Facilities - Westonka's school buildings feature secure main entrances with intercom systems that require visitors to check in before being granted access. Once inside, all visitors must sign in at the front office before proceeding further.

Thanks to our community’s support of the 2023 bond referendum, we’ve made major strides in facility safety. Recent upgrades at Hilltop and Shirley Hills primary schools, the Westonka Early Learning Center and Westonka Middle School include:

• Centralized lockdown capacity,
• Door alarms and visual strobes,
• Hardened glass in main entrances and other select areas, and
• The ability to isolate specific zones within the building, providing public access only where it’s needed.

Westonka High School will receive similar upgrades as part of its redesign in 2025 and 2026. In the meantime, high school staff and administrators continue to update emergency procedures to account for ongoing construction and to prioritize school safety. For more information on the bond-funded improvements, please visit www.westonka.k12.mn.us/bondprojects.

We are grateful for the partnership of our families, staff, and community as we look forward to a great start to the new school year. As always, please feel free to reach out directly with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kevin Borg, Superintendent
Westonka Public Schools
(952) 491-8001
borgk@westonka.k12.mn.us