April 10, 2014 (Sacramento):  Sacramento City Unified School District is asking the community for help in keeping its 75 schools safe and secure over Spring Break (April 12-20). School resumes on Monday, April 21.

Arson fires at two SCUSD playgrounds last summer cost the district $50,000 in insurance deductibles.

“Most of our schools are surrounded by homes, and we need those neighbors to join us in protecting these valuable and sometimes vulnerable community centers,” said SCUSD Safe Schools Office Manager Nina Delgadillo, who heads SCUSD security services. “Neighbors truly are the eyes and ears of our district.”

Copper theft, in particular, costs California schools hundreds of thousands of dollars every year – money that most districts cannot afford to lose.

All SCUSD campuses will be locked and alarmed during the break, and all security cameras will be monitored. Neighbors are asked to be on the lookout for suspicious activity on SCUSD campuses and to report it. “The schools belong to the community,” said Delgadillo, “and we need the entire community to help us guard them.”

For schools within Sacramento city limits call 264-5471. Residents outside city boundaries should call the county Sheriff’s Department at 874-5115. School security can also be called 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 643-7444.