By Jarret Liotta
More than 150 parents came to the Bedford Middle School auditorium tonight to learn what school and town officials are doing to promote school safety, as well as to voice their fears and concerns following the recent threat at Staples High School.
Officials listen to comments from parent Allison Keisman at tonight’s talk on school security. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer took the opportunity to promote her imminent request for four new, armed school resource police officers.
“I believe we need a team of SRO’s,” she said, estimating it would be a $600,000 budget increase.
A total investment of $1,740,000 has gone toward school security since the Newtown shooting five years ago, according to Elio Longo, director of business operations.
He said grant money has reimbursed 20 percent of those costs, which have included $450,000 for 157 video cameras, $450,000 for a mass notification system, and $500,000 for protective film on windows, as well as two-way radios and new door locks.
Parent Todd Middlebrook suggested a creation of a new database. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
“We work on security as an ongoing matter, but we also think it’s important to hear from everyone,” said Board of Education Chairman Michael Gordon, noting many people had expressed questions and concerns this month.
While several people praised the work of police and other officials for their ongoing work, various ideas for improvement were shared, including making an attempt to identify homes with heavy assault weapons where troubled youngsters also reside.
Noting that 95 percent of the time “it’s the devil within,” and not an outside shooter who terrorizes a school, parent Todd Middlebrook said the town should create a database.
“If you know that’s where the perpetrators are going to come from, why not put in the time and energy,” he said, versus spending large amounts of money on upgrading facilities.m
-Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer listens to the presentation by Elio Longo, director of business operations. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
Police Chief Foti Koskinas said the matter required thought and would be considered, but noted it could potentially impinge on privacy of residents.
“When do we cross the right to privacy?” he said, adding that most local gun owners were “very responsible.”
“I think we’ve crossed it,” Middlebrook said.
Longo said that “threat-assessment software” called Gaggle was soon going to be put into operation in the schools. “It scans behind the scenes for certain key words … we would associate with a threat,” he said, and would be scanning student emails and written work.
Palmer said that in at least one case in another district it had helped prevent a suicide.
In answer to one question, Koskinas said a metal detector was not a practical solution at Staples, given the campus was open in the afternoons and evenings. He said its use would necessitate completely changing the culture of the building.
Asked about how students who could pose a threat are treated, Palmer was clear.
About 150 persons attended the meeting at Bedford Middle School. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
“If we have any information that someone is not safe to be in our schools, they will not be in our schools,” she said. “If I feel someone shouldn’t be here, I will take action.”
Likewise, Palmer said promoting a sense of community among students was an important facet of preventing problems.
“I think that as a school community we need to be mindful to ask who’s not getting picked to be part of a group,” she said. “If you see someone alone, just break the ice. Bring them into our community.”
