By James Lomuscio
Westport’s Board of Education tonight unanimously approved asking the Board of Finance for $750,000 to equip key public school personnel with special radios for instant police communication in the event of a security breach or possible attack.
First floor windows of all Westport public schools now have a thin protective security layer held in place by a black seal. This is a window at Staples High School tonight where the Board of Education met. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“With this system it’s instantaneous,” said Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, noting that currently teachers and administrators would have to dial 911 in the event of an internal or external attack. “We save 15 to 30 seconds. We have time we never had before.”
Buying time appears to me the focus of the school board’s security measures now entering the next phase, communication.
Over the summer, Landon noted, the school system installed 1,425 high security interior door locks costing $200,000, as well as installing to the tune of $500,000 clear 3M film on each school’s first floor windows and doors to slow down access for those who would do harm to children.
The door and window film and door locks had been recommended by Kroll Security, Inc. in response to concerns generated by the Newtown shootings in December 2012.
“I believe we have added a high power element to the security of our students,” said Landon, adding that “no teacher has to fumble with a door lock” in the event of an intruder since the doors now automatically lock behind them.
Landon also touted the 3M film as “impervious to battery and highly secure.”
“You can’t kick it in; you can’t break it with a baseball bat,” he said, noting that the resistance provided by the 14 ml thick, clear coating would provide “sufficient time to ward off the intruder, so police could get there.”
Landon also noted that the school system has hired a security administrator. Though the administrator was not identified, nor was the salary, Landon said, “I think we have a great person.”
According to Elio Longo, director of school business operations, the security administrator, who will begin on Sept. 2, has more than 20 years of campus security and crisis management experience at Fairfield University, his current employer, and the University of Bridgeport.
Landon also said Westport has established, as required by the state, “security committees in all of our schools.”
Acknowledging that there had been criticism of the administration for taking too long to implement capital security measures in the wake of Newtown, Landon said, “We didn’t want to rush into anything.”
Landon said he was glad the school system took its time with due diligence, saying that “no other school” had made “the first floor impervious to assault.”
Prior to the vote recommending the $750,000 request for radios, board member Mark Mathias lauded the measures the administration has taken so far.
“It means we’re protecting children, and we lead other schools in Connecticut in doing so.,” he said.
In other board matters, Longo noted that the school system had positive fund balance of $932,000 in its health insurance accounts, enough to pay for incurred but not yet reported claims.
Landon also, in response to a Board of Finance request for a five-year forecast of school system, total operating budget requests, said that 4.5 to 5 percent annual increases would be realistic compared to preferred 1.5 and 2 percent increases.
Landon said this was due to contractual obligations and an expected student enrollment bump, even the possibility of rising interest rates.
“The future is a tremendous unknown, so I would rather be safe than sorry,” he said.
