In the wake of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, North Shore schools are examining their security measures and urging students and parents to talk to district counselors about potential threats.
Roslyn Superintendent Allison Brown said the shock of the school shooting, which killed 17 students and adults, had her contemplating the district’s plan for security and safety across its five schools.
“In the last few years, we have put in place strong emergency protocols and practice them regularly,” Brown said in a statement. “Every one of our schools tests these protocols in coordination with local police, who have given us high marks for preparedness.”
Brown said under the advice of law enforcement, the details of the protocols are not discussed publicly because disclosing specifics could potentially compromise safety.
She did say, however, that much of the new construction in the district has included more secure entrances, and the staff conducts a number of emergency drills, including lock-downs, lock-outs, shelter-in-place and evacuation to prepare for different types of intruder situations.
At Roslyn High School, only the main entrance is accessible to students and visitors, and all the schools have a single point of entry during school hours.
The district also employs security cameras on the buildings and fields as well as electronic student IDs, door alarms and panic buttons.
“We are conducting a review audit of all of our security-related technology this week,” Barry Edelson, the Roslyn communications director, said. “Such reviews have been undertaken a number of times previously, but in light of recent events, we wish to see if there are areas in which improvements may be made.”
Brown, a mother herself, also said parents and students can always help with the classic “if you see something, say something” motto.
“Whenever school staff learns about students who are at risk, or about any situations that might escalate into something more serious, they intervene immediately,” Brown said. “All information about students remains confidential, but confidentiality does not mean we cannot act to help a student in trouble.”
In an email sent to Great Neck school district parents and staff, Assistant Superintendent Jon Powell said that school officials are “evaluating all safety and security procedures currently in place” and “in the process of adding a number of additional measures this week.”
Great Neck Superintendent Teresa Prendergast also outlined some of the safety precautions the school district currently has, including student safety personnel who have trained with the police and state Department of Homeland Security, security patrols throughout the district, closed circuit video surveillance and a LobbyGuard Visitor Management System that registers school visitors.
Each of the 10 schools in the district also conducts unannounced evacuation and lockdown drills throughout the year, Prendergast said.
“We take school safety and security very seriously,” Prendergast said. “The district has been vigilant in its efforts to train all school personnel and to familiarize students with various safety protocols.”
Prendergast added the district will continue to “work collaboratively as a school community of administrators, teachers, parents and staff to ensure the safety of our students” and that if anyone sees something that might threaten safety within the schools, it should be reported.
Port Washington School Superintendent Kathleen Mooney and Board of Education President Karen Sloan sent a letter to parents and staff to reassure them in the wake of the tragedy.
“These horrific events remain as a constant reminder that our schools must be secure, safe places for teaching and learning,” the letter said.
The letter went on to say that the district had expanded its security staff and added full-time trained security guards to all schools within the last year. The district is in the process of installing a state-of-the-art security system in all schools (as part of a bond approved by the community in March 2015). Currently, all doors are locked during the day, the elementary schools have a buzzer system, and all visitors must present identification before entering a school.
“Security is, without a doubt, given the highest attention and priority in our District,” the letter said.
The letter also said that the school was caring for the mental health of students through trained professionals, especially at Carrie Weber Palmer Middle School and Paul D. Schreiber High School.
“Sadly, due to participation in summer camps and other associations, several… students and staff know students involved in [the shooting],” the letter said. “This brings the tragedy very close to home.”
Manhasset Superintendent Vincent Butera said as the district prepares the budget for the 2018-19 school year, the Board of Education will discuss at the March 8 meeting the state of the district’s facilities and security measures and how those could be upgraded.
“Over the past several years, Manhasset Public Schools has been at the forefront of implementing new protocols for security and student safety,” Butera said in a letter to parents on Monday following winter recess. “We have established a strong partnership with police officials from the Third Precinct to review our procedures and discuss best practices.”
Butera said in recent years, the district has strengthened protocols for visitor access and added a security checkpoint at the secondary school entrance.
Beyond physical security, Butera said the district’s counselors and social workers were available for students to discuss personal problems as well as concerns about other students who exhibit violent or worrisome tendencies.
“We recognize the importance of fostering trusted relationships between students and adults,” Butera said. “In the event that a student has knowledge of a potentially harmful situation, we want to ensure that they have a trusted adult to turn to for support.”
Director of Instructional Technology Sean Adcroft said the district is always looking for blind spots to fill and has video surveillance both inside and outside the building that is recorded and can be accessed at the Nassau County 3rd Precinct in case of an emergency.
Adcroft said the district is also participating in the Police Department’s Rave Mobile Safety system, which allows administrators to access a smartphone application with five buttons to call emergency services for an active shooter, a fire or a medical emergency.
The app can only be used on campus, Adcroft said, to avoid accidental use at home or unauthorized use if the phone is lost or stolen.
Adcroft also said the district is looking into replacing the exterior strobe lights on the buildings to warn teachers and students to not come into the school.
Herricks Superintendent Fino Celano said in a letter sent to parents that the Florida shooting reminds us “we must always be vigilant and continuously evaluate and strengthen our school safety and security measures.”
Celano outlined safety procedures that are in place, and that he said will be reinforced.
The middle and elementary schools have a single entry door while school is in session. The high school will have two points of entry, front and rear, with a security guard posted at each entry door, Celano said.
Celano said that high school students will be asked to carry their ID cards with them at all times.
Celano also noted the recent installation of new electronic staff ID card readers on exterior doors.
There is also an installation of new “Smart Locks” on all classroom doors across the district, he said.
Celano also said parents should take the opportunity to review the safety measures with their children.
“We want our students to know that they should report any concerns they may have to their teachers, administrators and mental health professionals,” Celano said.
He added that the district’s counselors, psychologist and social workers “work diligently to support the social and emotional well-being of our students.”
Celano also said the district encourages parents to attend the upcoming March 8 Board of Education meeting to address questions.
“Working together, we will get through this difficult time with the support of everyone in our caring Herricks school community,” Celano said.
In an online statement, East Williston Superintendent Elaine Kanas said the District and Safety Committee regularly reviews and updates the safety plan in light of new data and information.
For example, Kanas said, the Nassau County Department of Homeland Security is in the process of completing an updated districtwide security audit that began in late December.
In recent years the district also replaced front door monitors with retired police officers and started to require visitors’ appointments be confirmed before they are able to enter the building, Kanas said.
“While we fervently hope for not one more school or mass shooting anywhere in the country, when such a horrific event occurs, we consistently look to evaluate our own safety plans in light of what may be learned and our building and district administration is engaged in such a follow up process now with the consult of our safety professionals,” Kanas said.
