RUSD to add campus safety measures after firearm incidents

REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands Unified School District will implement new campus safety measures following two incidents in recent years in which middle school students brought loaded handguns onto campus, Superintendent Juan Cabral said in an April 22 letter to families.

Cabral said both incidents occurred over the past three school years and were quickly handled by staff with support from law enforcement. No injuries were reported, but district officials emphasized that even a single incident is cause for concern.

“These situations also underscore an important reality: prevention begins beyond the school campus,” Cabral wrote, noting that in both cases the firearms came from the students’ homes.

In response, the district plans to introduce a one-point-of-entry system at all middle schools “to the extent possible” to better monitor who enters campuses. The district will also begin using trained canine units capable of detecting gunpowder and firearm-related materials.

Cabral said the new measures are intended to strengthen existing safety protocols and serve as both a deterrent and an additional layer of protection.

The superintendent also called on families to play a critical role in prevention by securely storing firearms at home, as required by California law, and by talking with children about safety and the consequences of bringing prohibited items to school.

“Taking a moment to check your child’s backpack before they leave for school is another simple but meaningful step,” Cabral wrote, adding that state law does not allow schools to search every student’s belongings.

The parents of the student who brought a loaded gun to Moore Middle School on March 19 were arrested on suspicion of improper storage of a firearm.

District officials said they have gathered community input on school safety in recent weeks, which helped shape the planned changes.

Cabral emphasized that school safety depends on collaboration between families, schools and the broader community.

“When we work together through awareness, communication, and shared responsibility, we create safer environments for all students,” he said.

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