San Mateo is a vibrant and unique place, home to arguably some of the greatest educators and facilities in the Bay Area. When we think about what makes SMHS so great, it is easy to name our favorite teachers and classes, list all the amazing clubs we have or any one of the billion things that make San Mateo special. However, one major part of our school often goes underappreciated. This is a team of administrators, teachers and (now) students who are hard at work keeping that vibrant and unique place a safe one. If it wasn’t obvious yet, this would be the SMHS Security Team.
Headed by Mr. Adam Gelb, the San Mateo security team is responsible for the physical and emotional safety of the students who attend our school. This is a particularly difficult job when one considers the sheer magnitude of the student body. “When I came here there were about 1,400 students, now we have almost 1,800,” Mr. Gelb remarks, “so that changes the dynamic.” Not only do these extra bodies mean more students and teachers to ensure the safety of, but also more voices to be heard and to be represented.
To get the inside scoop on what security at San Mateo is like, I went straight to the source: Mr. Gelb himself, for a sitdown interview. The subject of my interview is perhaps one of the most universally respected administrators at SMHS. Known for his years of service, cool demeanor and genuine attitude towards the student body, Gelb has become an essential part of the San Mateo landscape. Yet he is also one of the most conscientious people on campus, always looking to do right by the students. That’s why, as of this year, our security team now has student representatives. When asked what led to this change, Mr. Gelb replies, “When we make a decision about a policy it’s always good to include the students’ voice…” These new representatives provide helpful input and insight into the students’ minds during drills. He explains that the students operate under the expectation that they would not help during a real situation, but they are useful, “just so we can have a student representative to say stuff like, ‘hey, did you know this bathroom is really busy this time of day,’ or, ‘no one really goes in that area, so I don’t think we should check that first, we should check the library.’” In a large environment such as the one the security team operates in, this sort of information can be invaluable in keeping drills running smoothly and the students safe.
However, there have been a few other changes for the security team this past year. Besides the new student representatives, Yondr has brought about its own challenges and advantages. Since one of the major difficulties Yondr presents is a lack of communication during emergencies, the security team has maintained a policy of over-communication before, during and following all drills. “We did the lockdown barricade drill, I let the parents know the week that it was coming…. Then the day of, before we made the announcement I gave all parents and guardians a phone call…. Then I announced it to everybody on campus, we sent out a global email, then I told parents, we’re about to give the all-clear, staff are going to be instructed to unlock pouches and have kids text.” Gelb explains this new policy saying, “I feel like over-communicating is something we need to do now that cell phones aren’t able to be accessed throughout the school day.” However, Yondr has also come with some advantages for the security team. Chief among these is the newfound attentiveness of the student body. “Last year, students wouldn’t even see me looking over their shoulder for 15 minutes, and I could be literally right over their shoulder, but they’re engaged in a game, they’re dropping F-bombs until someone notices me,” Mr. Gelb laughs. “Now people see me coming from half-way down the hall, and if there was an intruder or someone who is not supposed to be on campus, [the students] are kind of aware of their surroundings, which does improve school safety just in of itself, by not having that attachment to phones and screens.”
Regardless, Mr. Gelb and the security team remain dedicated to the students. With my final question, I ask him if he’d like to share any messages with the student body going into a new school year. He replies, “I think letting them know, there is always an adult on campus to support, help or assist them at any time of day with whatever might be going on….” Mr. Gelb continues, describing the emotional and mental side to the security he provides: “I want to let students know if you’re going through something or you feel a certain way… you feel down or sad or anxious, you can come talk to someone. Obviously there’s the physical component, if you don’t feel physically safe on campus we handle that in an urgent fashion, but if a student needs wellness… then we set that up.” Finally, he simply advises the students, “Really just get connected to the staff here and the adults on campus to really make the high school experience positive, and when they don’t feel so positive, know who to turn to.”