Dear OCSA Community,
We recognize that yesterday’s news of the lawsuit and subsequent allegations has understandably led to a wide range of emotions, and we would like to take this opportunity to remind our OCSA families of the policies and procedures we have in place related to student safety and support.
The safety and well-being of our OCSA students and staff is, and will always continue to be, our number one priority. We remain confident that OCSA has appropriate policies in place, and leadership and administration continue to review and revise all of the school’s safety protocols on a regular basis.
Please see below for a reminder of the current safety measures in effect each and every day that students are on campus:
- The OCSA Text-A-Tip phone number (657.529.6272) is available and monitored during all school hours, which allows parents, students, faculty, and staff to privately report suspicious or concerning information, as well as violations of behavior expectations and school policies.
- All OCSA employees are mandated reporters and are required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect.
- A School Resource Officer (SRO) from the Santa Ana Police Department is assigned full-time to the OCSA campus and community.
- OCSA Campus Security is on duty from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Friday and during all performances, actively patrolling all campus facility interior and exterior spaces. Campus Security can be reached at 949.565.5215.
- An Access Control System is in place to maintain locked facilities while students are in class.
In addition, if an OCSA student is ever in need of support or has an issue to report, they are encouraged to reach out to their school counselor (directory below) or to stop by the Student Services Office. The counselors are trained professionals who are available to assist students with anything they may be feeling or wishing to discuss.
If you have questions or concerns about the school’s policies and procedures as they pertain to student safety and support, please contact Principal Michael Ciecek at any time.
Once again, we remain committed to supporting the needs of our students and will continue to work together to keep OCSA a safe and secure environment for all who enter. We will keep you informed to the best of our abilities as the situation develops – thank you in advance for your patience.
Sincerely,
Teren Shaffer
President & CEO
Orange County School of the Arts
