By James Lomuscio
Westport’s Board of Finance by a vote of 6 to 0 with 1 abstention tonight approved a request by Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon for $743,114 from the General Fund for mass communication and two-way radios as added security measures in all eight schools.
School security issues were discussed by Board of Finance and school officials tonight with input from the police and fire departments. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Elio Longo, school business administrator, said the appropriation would be offset by two state grants making the net cost to the town $601,772.
Finance board member Tom Lasersohn abstained, saying he was torn as a father who wanted his children to be safe in school and as a Board of Finance member who, being responsible to the taxpayer, wanted more data.
Others, however, said they were convinced by police and fire officials who spoke at the meeting in support of the appropriation.
The mass communication system, which would broadcast word of emergencies through the fire alarm systems, including interior and exterior speakers, as well as have emergency lockdown buttons, has a cost of $480,000 offset by an $86,982 state grant.
The two-way radio system, a highly complex setup involving digitized walkie-talkies, 190 hand sets, and Motorola repeaters that allow communications between schools, carries a cost $262,484 offset by a $54,360 grant.
Longo said the entire appropriation would go before the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in March.
According to Michael Gordon, chair of the Board of Education, the decision for installing the communications and radio systems was the result of advice from Kroll Security Advisors, hired in the wake of the December 2012 Newtown school shootings, and input from the town’s first responders.
Landon said that his administration and the board were looking for “what would best protect our children and staff from threats internal and external.”
Landon also lauded the input his administration has received from the town’s police and fire officials who were present at the meeting.
“I have more respect than I ever did before from working with our first responders,” Landon said, adding that while safety remained their main concern, they were also sticklers when it came to spending.
The communications and two-way radios were the third part of Phase I recommended by Kroll.
The school system, following Kroll’s recommendations already installed interior security locksets and protective window film in all of the district’s eight schools last summer.
