Central Oregon’s education, public safety, and health leaders are coming together once again to keep schools safe and students thriving.
On Wednesday, November 19, at 8 a.m., officials from across the region will meet at the High Desert Education Service District (2804 SW 6th St, Redmond) for the annual Safe Schools Alliance (SSA) signing event — highlighting a long-standing partnership dedicated to preventing school violence and promoting student well-being.
At the event, leaders will sign an updated Memorandum of Support and Participation, reaffirming their united commitment to collaboration across schools, law enforcement, and mental health agencies.
“Maintaining safe and supportive schools is essential not only to learning but to the health of our communities,” said Jim Boen, Regional Director of Mental & Behavioral Health for HDESD. “Through proactive collaboration and shared responsibility, we create conditions where every student feels safe, valued, and connected—the very foundation of the Safe Schools Alliance.”
A Partnership Built on Prevention
The Safe Schools Alliance was created in 1998 after the tragic Thurston High School shooting in Springfield, Oregon. In response, Deschutes County launched CRASH (Crime Reduction at School Houses) — which evolved into today’s SSA, now serving Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties.
What began as a local response has grown into a national model for how communities can work together to keep schools safe.
Throughout the year, SSA members tackle key issues such as bullying prevention, sex trafficking, school violence prevention, and campus safety. They coordinate joint training sessions, conduct facility safety reviews, and develop strategies to build positive school climates.
Agencies Participating in 2025 Include:
Bend Fire and Rescue
Bend Police Department
Bend-La Pine Schools
Black Butte Ranch Police Department
Cascades Academy
Crook County District Attorney
Crook County Fire and Rescue
Crook County Juvenile Justice
Crook County Sheriff’s Office
Crook County School District
Culver School District
Department of Human Services – Child Welfare (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties)
Deschutes County Behavioral Health
Deschutes County District Attorney
Deschutes County Juvenile Justice
Deschutes County Health Services
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office
High Desert Education Service District
Jefferson County Education Service District
Jefferson County District Attorney
Jefferson Fire District
Jefferson County Juvenile Justice
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Jefferson County School District
La Pine Rural Fire Protection District
Prineville Police Department
Redmond Fire and Rescue
Redmond Police Department
Redmond School District
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District
Sisters School District
St. Francis School
Sunriver Fire Department
Sunriver Police Department
Trinity Lutheran School
For more information about the Safe Schools Alliance, visit the SSA webpage.
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About the High Desert Education Service District
The High Desert Education Service District (HDESD) provides vital programs and services to school districts across Central Oregon, connecting them to state and national resources. HDESD helps reduce service duplication, conserve local budgets, and support innovative educational opportunities that enhance student success throughout the region.
