Elementary schools added to Safe School program

Students and staff at two more Douglas County schools will have an extra layer of safety come fall.

Piñon Hills and Zephyr Cove elementary schools were recently added to the Safe School Volunteer Program.

Gardnerville resident Ted Hobbs, a U.S. Navy veteran and a Douglas County School District substitute teacher coordinated the program after becoming concerned with the increase of gun violence across the country over the last decade. The program kicked off in February with Douglas High School as the pilot school to help protect students from violence and threats.

“I want to make sure the kids have a safe place to learn and grow,” said Hobbs.

After partnering with the Douglas County School District and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the program began accepting volunteers in September 2022.

“The original ‘pilot’ goal for this year was to bring the program to one school before the end of the school year. Despite the small number of volunteers we had for the program, we achieved that and more by the time school ended on June 16,” said Hobbs. “The addition of the two elementary schools has been added to the program because of the program’s acceptance in the community and the increased number of applicants.”

The Safe School Volunteer program is a two-team volunteer patrol system on school campuses.

Each team observes activity on the grounds and reports anything suspicious to the site administrator and school resource officer, whom would make the best determination of action to eliminate the threat.

Executive Director of Educational Services Shannon Brown said the program is also an opportunity to add more support and trusted people on campus.

“The volunteers can act as that extra set of eyes and ears the students might need to feel safe and supported,” said Brown.

The Safe School Volunteer program is seeking a goal of 12 to 14 volunteers to patrol daily at all 12 Douglas County school sites. The volunteers would be split into teams of two, with four total on each campus. Volunteers will be trained and provided equipment.

“We are encouraging applicants to submit now, throughout the summer months to give us the ability to add that extra layer of safety across the district starting in August,” said Hobbs.

Hobbs and partners of Safe School Volunteers recognizes current volunteers John Clary, Kappy Mann, Monica Shea, Bob Centanni, Just Schwendemann, Steve and Leslie Ragan, Michelle Day, Fraser Anning, Barbara Smallwood, Judy Houle, Curtis Srewart, Sal Prado, Rick Lusby, Jon Mustachio, Steve Ramsey, Steve Emery, Berry Boyd, Jeanie Cerceo, Jim Bridie, Dan Stout and Scott Maier.

“A huge thank you to our current volunteers that have given their available personal time and to our community supporters, the Record Courier, Carson Valley Signs Alysse Dumry, Accolades Trophies, Monique Reno, Douglas Disposal, Valley Pediatric Dentistry, M. Scott Properties, Inc., and Morts Auto Body for their financial support, community outreach and for providing necessary equipment for the program,” said Hobbs, “as well as to our Douglas County School District Superintendent Keith Lewis, Executive Director for Educational Services Shannon Brown, Lead Secretary for the Safe School Volunteer Program Tandy Erikson, Sheriff Dan Coverley and his staff for the support they have given to the program and to DHS teacher Rita Osborne who challenged her multimedia class to create a logo for the program and Izabella Campos who was the winner of the contest.”

For more information about the Safe School Volunteer Program and to submit an application contact the program coordinator Ted Hobbs at 775-790-1048. The application process consists of an interview, fingerprinting and a background check. Background checks and fingerprints are required to volunteer for the school district.