School Safety Spurs Spirited Discussion at BOE Meeting
District to hire director of security
For the first time since its creation earlier this month the Howell Public Schools Safety Task Force delivered a report on ways to protect the students and staff of the district.
As a result of the work the board agreed to hire a Director of Security though specific duties and salary are yet to be worked out
Board member Tim O'Brien who serves as one of the chairmen of the group said through their first meetings the task force had considered the possibility of adding the new position and looking to hire a firm to provide school safety officers for the buildings. The latter proposal was voted down by members of the board.
O'Brien said the district's director of security would, "provide leadership, personnel supervision and coordination of safety and security functions of the Howell Schools." He also said he saw the safety officers serving much the same role the school resource officers from the Howell Police Department had served in the past. "There seemed to be consensus that it would provide security, but would also be a part of the school environment to have more of a school resource officer approach," he said.
During his presentation O'Brien referred to information provided by members of the local police department at the board's last meeting about ways to improve security. "The events of Newtown have made it impossible to look back and say what could have happened," he said. "Their recommendation is to have someone in the building with the appropriate level of force."
Suzanne Brennan said she recently met with representatives from 10 of the local schools. At that meeting she said they expressed an interest to explore further but were unsure of what final steps should be taken. She said they wanted to know what any changes would cost and what would be involved for students on a daily basis. "The feeling I got from the ladies was they weren't necessarily ready to take the leap into having armed personnel," she said.
After the last meeting of the board, Brennan said she was "a little confused about what our public wants, what our community is actually asking for," as residents at that time had spoken in favor of the added security guards.
As a way of finding out how the community felt Al Miller said he would support a survey being distributed to the community to gauge their interests in any potential changes. Miller also said he supported the director position and seconded both of O'Briens motions.
One of the most vocal members against O'Brien's Suggestions was John Van Noy. As the chairman of the finance committee Van Noy said he believed his committee should "be in charge of doing this process," to determine if it would be economically feasible for the district.
Van Noy said he had recently attended a presentation last week where Chief Raymond J. Hayducka, President of the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police spoke. During that presentation Van Noy said the Chief reported that he was against having an outside agency working in the schools in an armed security position. He said those in attendance were "strongly urged not to jump the gun and bring in a third party to manage the process."
As a board member Van Noy also said he believed his colleagues could act in the best interests of the community without sending out a poll. "The presumption is that you've elected someone who are leaders and with all their heart and soul they will look at all of the issues and not let anything pull them aside," he said.
Van Noy said he did not believe putting armed security in the school buildings was a good idea. "The point is to help people, not to creat a battleground," he said. "
Stephen M. Levine said over the course of the day there were "1000 people who have their eyes open," to identify any students who could pose a threat to other people in the district. "Every person in this school from the custodian to the school secretaries, they see children in ways that the staff cannot."
That group also includes bus drives, aides and paraprofessionals. "They have ears that staff inside the building may not be hearing in terms of student to student communication."
Before the board voted O'Brien said he disagreed with Van Noy that the issue should start with the finance committee. "It's a safety issue, not a money issue," he said. "What we're talking about here is the safety of our children, not how much it's going to cost."
He also said he believed the board members should be leaders but in a different way than Van Noy. "I think we need to lead by taking the path to putting our children's safety first and foremost," he said. If the decisions the board made resulted in taxes being raised, they should dsicuss it with the public at that time.
O'Brien said that is something the board would need to discuss and inform the public about. "Don't make it a choice between an iPad and our own children's safety," he said. "You can't have a safe environment if there's the potential threat of a Newton occurring in this district."
Chuck Welsh, one of the newest members of the board, said he believed the board needed to be "careful," with their actions going forward. "We have to be careful implying that without this our kids aren't safe," he said.
Welsh said the Howell schools are among the safest in the state and that students are generally safer in schools than nearly anywhere else. "No matter what we do we can't guarantee or protect ourselves from the last thing that happened because it's going to be different from the next thing that happens."
Board President Mary Cerretani also agreed that the students in Howell schools were in good hands. "Our children are safe and we feel that we are providing them with a safe environment," she said. She said that was, "a credit to not only the administrative staff but also the school personnel for keeping them safe."
When the vote was taken for the director of security position Jeanne DePompo and Van Noy were the two no votes as the measure passed. O'Brien, Miller and Brennan were the three votes in favor of hiring the outside contractor for the school security officers.
The board is scheduled to meet next on Feb. 13 at Middle School North.
Kati Robinson
9:40 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Does anyone know why the board is looking to hire an outside agency versus utilizing the police force for armed security?
Adam Hochron
10:19 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
With their current staffing numbers the department has told the district they simply don't have the manpower to put an officer in all the schools.
Jim Lang
1:34 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Neither do we need to assume that it is necessary. What's next, an armed guard at every door and window, every school bus, every outdoor recess and sport practice and field ? Van Noy Welsh are right. Do the math. School employees are the best eyes and ears anyway.
DennyD
11:41 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
If someone wants to shoot up a mall, a McDonalds', a movie theater or a school they will. Schools are susceptible because of all the doors and windows. Hundreds of kids are on the move as they enter and exit the buildings. How do you "protect" them? This is a knee-jerk reaction to a problem that CANNOT be solved. Simply said, there are too many guns out there and too many nutty people with the opportunity to use them.
XXX
11:48 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
I attended the saftey meeting and it was O'Brien, Miller and Brennan looking out for the childrens safety and all the others are thinking about money.
Van Noy said he did not believe putting armed security in the school buildings was a good idea. "The point is to help people, not to creat a battleground," he said. "
(answer)120 attempted assaults on America's schools over 10 years, I think we already past that point Mr Van Noy. Chuck Welsh, said he believed the board needed to be "careful," with their actions going forward. "We have to be careful implying that without this our kids aren't safe," he said. (answer)So as of now we have not changed ANYTHING, that’s the right way to go? the school in CT had everything we have and NEWER and that did not work. nobody is saying school is going to be the safest place, what we are saying give our kids a fighting chance.
I was very disappointed on the non aggressive approach the board has elected to take in this urgent matter, almost as if they are saying this can not happen to us.
XXX
11:49 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
One of My biggest concerns are the inaccurate statistics the board has “school is the safest place for a child “studies show that is NOT TRUE. This saying was started in the 80’s “you have a better chance of getting hit from a lightening bolt then getting hurt in school” and does not pertain to today’s world. FYI since January 2013 there has been 5 shootings in us schools not counting the ones who brought guns to school and never fired them. Why are the Howell police saying this is a good idea and the BOE is saying its not? Mr Mayor you quoted "if our police asked for it then it would be done TIME TO MAN UP!
Jim Lang
1:42 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
What are the accurate statistics ? How many schools are in the USA? How many lightening bolts? What's after that? Arm the teachers? Arm the bus drivers? Arm the crossing guards? Arm the students? Hysteria does not lead to clear decision-making.
s
2:31 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
I agree with you Jim. The massacre at Newtown has particularly struck a nerve in people for fast action due to the young age of these children. Yet, with Columbine, Va Tech, etc. there was no outcry for change. No child is more important than another because of their age. It must be approached rationally, and holistically. I'm sure for many parents, once their "young ones" are out of school, they will feel different about jumping so fast to arm everyone up.
XXX
4:47 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Exactly my point the statistics should not favor any side, but to arm the teachers, bus drivers,crossing guards or students is just ignorance. Having a trained professional such as a police officer in the school to protect the students and staff from drugs, bullying and weapons is more level headed. HYPERTHETICAL An active shooters walk into a school I would like to see someone go up and ask him for an ID. People seem to be missing the point the bar has already been set, no one is going to wait and get buzzed in THEY SHOT THE DOOR DOWN. I will take my chances on having an armed guard to slow or defeat the active shooter then a person running and throwing a paper clip at them, precautionary measures need to be taking. It has been proven everything we have in place CT had as well and that seemed to fail as 26 are dead so we need something better Hysteria Is along the same line as THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN TO US. How can someone say” no child is more important than another because of there age” and then follow it up by saying once their "young ones" are out of school, they will feel different about jumping so fast to arm everyone up. So just because your children are lucky enough to have avoided this you are against it. really?
s
5:08 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
I am not against armed officers in schools due to any students age, I was making a point that because of the young ages of the student in CT everyone is now looking for immediate action, but not thinking through the whole process. I am against armed people in schools for many other reasons, however.
Howell Resident
8:44 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Hysteria? Six Fags Great America has armed security. The New York Public Library has armed security. As I enter the Freehold Mall, who do I see? Security. Public transit may soon have tasers too. Parking garages, concerts, sporting events, all have security. I would not call, school security hysteria.
It's very real. Stop the Adam Lanzas and their vehicles in the school parking lot entrance. Don't give them the opportunity to even get close to the building.
Jim Lang
10:23 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
I would not call it "school security" either. As I said before, where will we draw the line ? If we do not "Arm the teachers? Arm the bus drivers? Arm the crossing guards? Arm the students? " someone could make the same argument. Ten years ago the beltway sniper was taking out shoppers around Washington D.C. Every parent could argue that they want the armed guard located where their child participates in any school activity. Every fifty feet at a cross country run? What about basketball and football ? Why not buy your child a vest, and require him/her to wear it. Would you want the school district to buy the vest ? The point is that security is an illusion if someone crazed enough wants to create havoc. The vest, the armed guard, armed teachers - Six Flags will have security as long as people buy tickets to pay for it. Once the hysteria takes hold, we don't have the option of saying that we do not want to buy a ticket.
Jaded
10:08 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
"No matter what we do we can't guarantee or protect ourselves from the last thing that happened because it's going to be different from the next thing that happens."
My thoughts exactly! Thank you to those that voted "no". There is no supporting evidence that a security director or armed guards will make a difference.
Quote from Asst. State Attorney General:
“There is no spell to keeping your schools safe,” said assistant state Attorney General Ronald Susswein. “Please resist the temptation to do something decisive and visible because it might not be the right thing.”
Jim Lang
10:29 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
The Asst. State Attorney General Ronald Susswein has given us a fair warning that I think we should heed.
Howell Resident
11:10 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
Schools need serious protection from PEOPLE we can't fix with a magic spell. Stop them from getting near the school at the parking lot entrance. Can you imagine if the U.S. was still using old ironsides to protect our country?
colette mancuso-grisanzio
9:12 am on Saturday, January 26, 2013
I'm sure newton elementary thought their school was safe until that sad day. Our children come first and if a security guard can possibly dissuade a killer from entering our schools then the decision should be clear. Hire them!
Me Me Me
11:01 am on Saturday, January 26, 2013
I have to agree with Kati Robinson's comments - Does anyone know why the board is looking to hire an outside agency versus utilizing the police force for armed security? Why is there not enough money to add extra police officers but funds for an outside security agency? I want Howell Police officers in my children's school vs. an outside security agency. I do not want a outside security officer in my children's school for security reasons - they aren't exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer. How does one deem Howell Schools are the safest in the state - is this a proven stat or is it because nothing has yet to happen? What information supports this comment? This is really simple - hire extra police officers instead of outsouring to another company!!! We all have one common goal in mind and that is to make sure the kids are safe and all these discussions are good but I can't wait to hear the stupid comments folks have to say about mine.
XXX
12:40 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
Me Me Me, I agree with you! the reason we can not have police in the schools is because they are short handed, I spoke witht the Howell police dept and they agree we need security in the school,they are willing to work with the outside agency to get that person the training he or she would need. I would like to agree with you that we all have the same goal to keep the kids safe but as you can see in other comments we do not. Seems to be if you do not have a child in school you are more concerned about your taxes going up and not the value of keeping our children safe BUT is ok that I lived in Howell for 11 yrs and paid taxes when I did not have a child in school. Thank you all who voted yes and lets keep the pressure on the board.
s
5:12 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
A police office in the school is no guarantee of safety. Shall he stand at the front door for 7 hrs per day? Will he walk the halls and continuously check all entries throughout the day? What happens when the kids are dismissed at the end of the day? The bell rings, and they all walk out for the buses or to be picked up by the parents. What do we do about that? That is not very secure either.
veracious
11:40 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
Adults, where do you feel safer? A place with armed guards is often perceived as a less safe place than other places and therefore needing that type of presence.
Is anyone even thinking about how this may affect the children and their level of anxiety? School is already a stressful place for kids and there has been a significant increase in mental illness among children and youth over the past few years. Is anyone consulting mental health professionals about how children will perceive armed guards in their schools? I personally need to make sure that any actions taken to protect our children physically is not going to harm them psychologically.
Joseph Grisanzio
12:45 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
1. UNIFORMED SECURITY! One Guard per school. They don't have to be armed. They will serve to deter! They would be a, "dedicated set of eyes!" To hell with budget concerns. There is plenty of money for this!
2. Examine the student body and reach out to the potentially (and usually obvious) troubled soul. Intervention and concern, can avoid a sea of unacknowledged emotions from flooding over into disaster.
Stop letting the internet baby sit our youth!
J. Grisanzio
veracious
10:02 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
Top five causes of mortality among 5-14 year olds (i.e. K-8) are:
1. Accidents (primarily motor vehicle)
2. Cancer
3. Congenital disease
4. SUICIDE
5. Homicide
This is the mortality report from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_06.pdf
If we are really concerned about the safety of our children, then we should be looking at this list as a priority list for public investment in prevention.
BTW Joseph, 21%, 5 kids in every classroom of 25 (ages 9 to 17) have a diagnosable mental illness or addiction. 80% of them are unrecognized and untreated which means only 1 out of the 5 in every classroom is getting help. If this was an "obvious" illness, that would not be the case. Your child could be one of the 5 and you may not even know it.
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=federal_and_state_policy_legislation&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=43804
Parents/community members need more information to make sure they are not advocating for something that is more harmful than helpful for our children.
XXX
11:18 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
“Is anyone even thinking about how this may affect the children and their level of anxiety? (answer) I think there is more anxiety knowing there is not a cop in school ,what type of anxiety or mental illness would come from a student bringing a weapon to school and shooting at another student, what mental illness would that kid and his friends have for the rest of his life. How do you think kids felt the Monday when they had to go back to school, when your child comes up to you and says I am scared to go to school is it safe. How was the anxiety level then and the only thing we can tell them is “its safe”.
XXX
11:29 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
We all go to the doctor to prevent illness, why can’t we take preventative action on protecting our kids?
veracious
12:10 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
My children didn't have any anxiety related to this incident on that Monday because I was protecting them from exposure to these discussions. I wish the schools and other parents were as conscientious. If I display confidence in their safety in school, they will feel secure. I am incredibly resentful that some parents are increasing their childrens anxiety which is then spilling over onto my kids. Children take their cues from the adults around them, especially their parents.
I'm telling my kids they are safer at school than getting into the car with me to counteract some of the things they have been hearing. I've pointed out that the chance that something will happen to them at school is twenty times less likely than the chance that something will happen to them while they are in the car with me. I've pointed out my driving record. Then I get them in the car to take them to whatever activity we have planned. Actions speak louder than words.
Al Miller
2:27 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Thank you all for your comments both pro & con.