Safety & Security
Beachwood Schools is committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment for all students and staff. We value our partnership with the Beachwood Police Department to assign certified police officers to all of our schools.
Meet Our Director of Security
Beachwood City Schools is proud to have Officer Colton Pekarski leading our safety and security program. Officer Pekarski leverages his extensive experience as a police officer with both the City of Beachwood and City of Cleveland to plan, direct, and manage the district's security measures and emergency response plans. Officer Pekarski’s passion for school safety led him to become a certified ALICE and Rescue Task Force instructor. He also serves as the City of Beachwood's Store It Safe program ambassador to educate parents and the community about firearm safety and storage. Officer Pekarski holds both a bachelor of science and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.
Contact Officer Pekarski
(216) 831-2080, ext. 7111
cpekarski@beachwoodschools.org
Keeping Our Schools Safe
To ensure a safe and secure learning environment, Beachwood City Schools implements a multi-layered approach that includes:
Safety Communication
In the event of an emergency, Beachwood Schools uses an automated calling, texting, and emailing system to get information out to parents quickly. The contact information is pulled directly from Infinite Campus, so keeping your information up-to-date is vital.
School Safety Drills
Our staff and students receive specific safety and security training. This training includes how to handle the threat of an active shooter, a fire, and a tornado or other natural disaster. Building administrators work with the director of security and local safety officials to establish procedures, practice lockdowns and drills.
Threat Assessment Teams
Beachwood Schools are compliant with House Bill 123. Staff members in each building across the district are trained in threat assessment. These multidisciplinary teams include administrators, school psychologists, teachers, counselors, and the Director of Security. The goal is to identify students of concern, assess their risk for violence or harmful activities, and develop intervention strategies to manage that risk.
Family Partnerships
Learn how you can contribute to a secure learning environment with these resources:
- Safety Tip Line: Report any safety concerns anonymously through the Safety Tip Line.
- Drugs, Alcohol, and Vaping: Find information and resources to keep students safe in our Family Resources page.
- Online Safety: Learn how to protect yourself and your children online in our Family Resources page.
- School Safety: Access resources from the Ohio School Safety Center, including safe and supportive learning materials.
- Store It Safe: Learn about Beachwood's commitment to protecting children and adolescents from firearm injuries and deaths on the City of Beachwood's Store It Safe website.
