Seaford School Officials Address Safety Measures Following Connecticut Shooting

Seaford Mom December 18, 2012 at 04:26 am

Our schools now how guards outside and we are told that we cannot attend our children's Christmas parties because it is too much of a safety risk for PARENTS to see their own CHILDREN at school. I'm sure the PTA moms will be able to attend though. Parents should have access to their children, we are sending them to school, not jail. What happened at Sandy Hook was unimaginable and horrific and we need to protect our children, but locking them up and taking away our freedoms is not the answer.

Sal Triolo December 18, 2012 at 11:17 am

100% agree. This is sending completely the wrong message. While these shootings happen far too often, they are still very very far from the norm and the minute our reaction is to ban parents from their own children, we are basically accepting that mass killings are a way of life. We are saying that homicidal people are dictating the way we live our lives and taking away freedoms. Its an absurd reaction and exactly the wrong one to be sending to our kids. We don't honor the death of those children by doing this, we are honoring the killer by creating a culture of fear.

Lorraine DeVita December 18, 2012 at 01:19 pm

Thementaly ill mass murderer of innocents @ Sandy hook entered the building according to the reports by shooting out the glass. Perhpas instead of guards at the doors installing bullet proof glass, installing a card entry system with intercoms, video and door buzzers might be a more proactive yet less invasive process similiar to many large corporations. Access to educational facilities need to be examined not onlyfor the entrance of visitors but by vendors, delivery personnel etc. Schools need to take a serious look at a balance, keeping the students and personnel safe without causing an atmosphere of fear and trepidation. Yes this will cost money however this is money well spent a purposeful expenditure that is an investment in the safety and well being of our students. Also it might be prudent to have all schools evaluated by security professionals or law enforcement personnel to point out any weakeness in process as well as actual buidling vulnerabilties so they can be addressed. Precautionary and safe without inducing fear.

Lorraine DeVita December 18, 2012 at 01:43 pm

@ sal and seaford mom- unfortunately in light of what transpired these short term measures ARE caused not only by the tragedy @ Sandy Hook but also by the ensuing additonal multiple threats across the country have mandated that school districts across the coutnry REACT swiftly. While banning parents from XMas parties may seem extreme it may be a short term measure until a more efficient safe process can be installed. Look at it this way while i admit it may be extreme and rather frightening , the culture CASUED by the mulitple incidents across the country have unfortunatly caused a knee jerk reaction every where.Is it scary .. of course, however it is necessary,, thinking "this couldnt possibly happen here is " is something i dare say the parents of Sandy Hook also felt. So for the time being better SAFE then SORRY and be thankful they did something even though it may be seem over the top it is something that will give pause to all. something that will if looked at from a security /safety. phsych prespective may help alleviate the fears of the students who HAVE had trepidation in going to school. If this makes kids FEEL safer then so be it. This is I am sure a SHORT term solution until other measures can be explored & installed. ONe missed xmas party will not ruin your life. Relax schools are for STUDENTs not parents whether they be PTA mommies or not. Parents really shouldnt be walking the halls or have free access to students and classrooms anyway.

Seaford Mom December 19, 2012 at 06:33 pm

Parents should and need to be present at school. We cannot just hand over our children to a group of teachers and school staff for 6 hours a day. These are our children, we are solely responsible for their well being, and being present as much as possible is how we monitor their safety. School is for education, these children have to right to that. Schools do not have a right to keep us out. Bullet proof glass and armed guards? Maybe it is unsafe for them to go outside at recess, maybe we should have them ride to school in tanks instead of buses. Bad things can happen anytime, anywhere, we cannot give up our freedom and rights for the sake of "safety".

Lorraine DeVita December 19, 2012 at 07:52 pm

LEts be clear I in no way advocate armed guards. however I do disagree that parents belong in schools whenever they want. . My personal opinion and it is mine .. is that your child is in school to get an education not be within arms reach of mom or dad in case needed. other wise homeschool is an option separation anxiety is something some feel. School is also about learning independence. Now i dont know if you are a first time mom or a fourth time mom either way you sound like a GREAT mom who is much concerned about her child(ren) and obviously loves them. otherwise we wouldnt be having this conversation, but as one gets older one (meaning me) tends to realize there is only so much hands on helicopter momming you can do before it gets tiresome for all. Be involved often yes, just check to make sure the extent of your invlvement is not as much about you as it is for them. Have to admit there were times when 6 hours WITHOUT them seemed to evaporate quickly and wished it could be longer. lol..and others where i missed them terribly. but them again i was the mom who happily drove them off to college and didnt shed a tear instead did a happy dance .. so to each his own.. although i did cry like a baby when they went to kindergarten.. Armed gaurds no, bullet proof glass is unobtrusive invisible to most and would not frighten the children. and as most other schools have door buzzers and alarms we should investigate those options as well.

Lorraine DeVita December 19, 2012 at 07:55 pm

either way i think we can all agree everyones main concern is keeping them safe and unharmed both emotionaly as well as phsyically.

Seaford Mom December 19, 2012 at 08:11 pm

We all agree that safety for our children is our main objective. Parents at school keeps people accountable. Our children, teachers and school staff, it keeps a relationship with all of us so we can all be held accountable. Maybe if we all spent more time building relationships with our neighbors, our teachers, our children and less time in front of tv and computers(that would be us), we could help these troubled people before things get to needing bullet proof glass in our schools.

Lorraine DeVita December 19, 2012 at 08:30 pm

I dont have kids in these school so i will ofcourse defer to your sentiments as it effects you and your children specifically My heart breaks as does everyones for what happened to those children and their parents are going thru. I do have grandchildren in that age group and i do not know how these parents can or will cope i just pray they do for their own sake and those of their loved ones. to lose a child to violence of this proprotion is beyond comprehension. . I am just giving you my opinion but again it is an opinon from a completely different era of child raising. But like i said as did you the SAFETY of these kids is and should always be the MAIN concern and once a consensus is arrived at that all the parents and the SD can feel comfortable with then that is how you should proceed.
Give the SD time to come to some logical sound indepth plans that make sense to all and first and foremost (and take this from where it is coming from dont laugh i am serious ) DONT jump on them for being OVER CAUTIOUS to keep your kids safe .Better SAFE than SORRY, THATs coming from a grandmother of two little ones. and someone who VERY rarely agrees with the ADMIN. SAFETY FIRST , was a conversation I recently had with BC regarding another issue just a few days PRIOR to this tragedy. I am glad he took the most cautious route on this for the sake of the children.

Joe concerned citizen...not the plumber December 19, 2012 at 09:06 pm

Her is a good video to watch to give you insight as to what to expect in gereral term from an active shoot situation. We need to get back to the days where a Police Officer was assigned to the schools a a liason to the staff and the children, God Bless the families
http://www.tactical-life.com/online/news/run-hide-fight-dhs-x-houston-mayors-office-video-on-surviving-an-active-shooter-event-video/?right=news

BeeKay December 19, 2012 at 09:24 pm

Agreed > "however I do disagree that parents belong in schools whenever they want. . My personal opinion and it is mine .. is that your child is in school to get an education not be within arms reach of mom or dad in case needed. other wise homeschool is an option separation anxiety is something some feel. School is also about learning independence"
Having 3 kids, I love to share in activities such as the Autumn Classic, Harbor Day, the holiday gingerbread house activity, the arts and craft activity with a "special person", but apart from these days when the parents are encouraged to attend and spend QT with their children, parents should not be in the school whenever they please. I just don't understand this quote at all: "We cannot just hand over our children to a group of teachers and school staff for 6 hours a day." Why not?? And one last note, it seems that many districts are doing the same thing this week changing their holiday events/parties to non-guests. I hope that it is temporary until new procedures and protocol are put into place.

Seaford Mom December 20, 2012 at 01:40 am

To get back to past comments, and off the point of security, I do not think parents should be walking the hallways and in classrooms whenever they want. But I do think we should be let in the door. And I think we should be able to come to school events such as the Christmas parties. And saying why not just hand over our children just sounds wrong. I call and check on my kids when they are at a friends house for more than an hour when I know the parents personally. I do not know the entire staff personally, so if I can find reason to stop in occasionally for parties, events, or whatever the reason may be, I should be allowed in the door. Just because you work in a school does not make you a "good" person. These people teach our children more than math and reading, and we should be as much a part of it as we can so we can insure they are being taught what we want them to be taught.

Chris Wendt December 20, 2012 at 10:53 am

Then there would be all those other parents who want their kids to be taught the core curriculum by our professional faculty, and, who would not want certain other parents, or perhaps any other parents, in the school interfering with the education of their children.
And let's not lose sight of the oft-quoted example, here, of yet that other subset of parents who absolutely demand their children be taught just the way they want them to be taught, and so send their children to parochial or private schools instead of to public schools. Yet, in my experience, parents cannot waltz-in to Chaminade and interact with the classroom teaching, for the very same reasons parents should not be interacting with the classroom teaching in any public school. BeeKay alluded to home schooling, which is the one place where parent interaction is appropriate. As far as handing-over students to the schools, there is an operative term or legal concept, in loco parentis, which places the school, the teacher, the administrators, the professional educators in loco parentis, meaning, in the place of the parents. When a family hands their child to the school to act in loco parentis, they do not expect some other parents to be coming in and interfering with that relationship.

Lorraine DeVita December 20, 2012 at 01:50 pm

@Seaford Mom,
I am slightly confused so if you could elaborate I would appreciate it. What exactly do you mean by allowing parents" in the door ?" For what purpose/ intent? I applaud your efforts in being involved, holding people accountable and active more parents need to do so. But being allowed IN accomplishes WHAT/ with whom? I dont understand what exactly you DO when allowed in. Under no circumstances should you be allowed to enter a classroom uninvited , under no circumstances should you be allowed to enter a lunch room uninvited, or linger in hallways. Under most SD CURRENT standard policies you should only be allowed to enter the buidling&go to the office. Being allowed in a classroom for specific invited activites is reserved for special events&class moms. At no time past or present are parents allowed to roam the building or even interact with the child unless specificaly approved. I dont think That has changed except for uninviting parents to the holiday parties due to the current tagedy. So if you could be more specific as to what you are are referring to It would clear up some possible misconceptions i have, which is your roaming around the buildings talking to teachers and personally interacting with your child as well as others, unaccompanied and without having prior approval from the principal. Just dropping IN to see your child , talk to staff was not an option that was available to you prior if i am not mistaken.

Lorraine DeVita December 20, 2012 at 02:14 pm

IF I am wrong and the current policy is as "open " as you are alluding to then you're right the school is NOT safe and the access needs to be addressed immediately. At NO time should ANY parent be allowed to be IN the building unless invited or by an appointment. At no time should parents be allowed in hallways or be talking to staff taking them away from their assigned duties and tasks. PTA parents should NOT be using the Schools as their Hang outs and i am quite sure they DONT hang out at the schools and are only allowed in the building for PREAPPROVED reasons. If a parent needs to talk ot a child the parent should go to the office, and the school should contact the teacher and have the child brought to the office for parental interaction. If a parent is dropping something off, lunch books, homework, party food snacks etc they should ONLY be allowed to drop it off in the office or some other predesingnated spot and NOT be allowed to bring it to the classroom. Schools should always have an open door policy allowing parent s to come to the school to discuss matters important to them,with the appropriate individual at an pre determined time, but at NO time should parent s be allowed free access to the buildings. At all period .. That places EVERY student in that building @ risk ..

Hilarity Jones December 20, 2012 at 02:18 pm

Yesterday: "I dont have kids in these school so i will ofcourse defer to your sentiments"
And then today this. No one said anything about "lingering in the hallways" No one said anything about "entering a classroom uninvited" No one said anything about "entering a lunchroom uninvited". What Seaford Mom stated simply is that if she could find a reason to stop in "occasionaly" to better understand the surroundings, build a rapport with the people in charge, make sure that she is comfortable with what is going on, that she should be able to do that. And I wholeheartedly agree. Having dropped my daughter at school this morning, while I find it best to let her go at the door, as do the faculty and administration, I have in been able to walk her to the classroom if needed, be it to just take her the extra few feet, or to converse with the teachers. No one has even remotely indicated that they feel the need to barge into school and disrupt the day, So, Lorraine, where do you come up with these rediculous statements? No need to answer, we already know. @Seaford Mom, I know you do not need anyone to defend you, but I thought it reasonable in this situation.

Hilarity Jones December 20, 2012 at 02:33 pm

No one has "alluded" to anything with reference to any school policy, Lorraine, we are just stating our feeling on the subject. Why must you constatly put word in people mouths? You have stated on numerous occasions that you have no children in these schools, let alone in this state, you have not been involved in anything having to do with these schools for many, many years, other than to bash the BOE, but you are once agian an expert on policy and procedure. This string has absolutely nothing ot do with you, but you seem to find it to be your duty to be involved in this conversation as the de-facto expert. Why?

Lorraine DeVita December 20, 2012 at 02:37 pm

Well lets see, walking a child to their classroom door allows interaction with other students which their parents may not be aware or approve of . Allowing interaction with Staff that clearly have a job to accomplish may be considered taking them AWAY from their assigned duties to have a discourse with you. If one wants to talk to a teacher they should be allowed to make an appointment.
Your rights as a parent have specific limitations when entering the buidling , one limitation is interacting and allowing access to OTHER peoples children.

Lorraine DeVita December 20, 2012 at 02:58 pm

All of the scenairos you sighted can & should be done thru an appointment with the individuals you need or want to speak to. Just as Seaford mom cited "We cannot just hand over our children to a group of teachers and school staff for 6 hours a day. These are our children, we are solely responsible for their well being, and being present as much as possible is how we monitor their safety." School personnel are given background checks and while not infalliable i can assume they are somewhat complete. Background checks are NOT given to every parent so allowing THEM access to the buidling to check in see how things are doing and ascertain their childs well being is an open door for issues. the least of which is a lawsuit by OTHER parents who feel ACCESS to & safety of their children has been comprised by allowing other parents who are NOT there by appointent or invitation and not in a controled environmen/situation to" be present" in the building where they can have interaction with ANY child.

Hilarity Jones December 20, 2012 at 03:01 pm

Really? And please tell everyone where you find these "specific limitations" so that we can all be as educated as you are as to policy and procedure when it comes to elementary shools. I interact with these children and their parents outside the school as do all parents dropping their children off at school every day. According to your logic (if you can call it that) this would be inappropriate as well? So what you are also saying is that it is inappropriate for me or any parent, when dropping their child at school, to actually say hello and exchange pleasantries with the faculty and administration, because it "may be considered taking them AWAY from their assigned duties". I call that being nice, thoughtful, and most of all being a parent. I can not see any normal, logical or rightminded parent, or person for that matter, having a problem with that......except one.

Lorraine DeVita December 20, 2012 at 03:23 pm

Well perhpas your right, but i dare say you dont interact with ALL the parents , nor ALL the children. I dare say while you might interact with some of them others may not WANT interaction. Socializing outside of the school is OUTSIDE of the building , pleasantires are exchanged friendships possibly developed HOWEVER once those kids ENTER the building they are now the SCHOOLS responsibiltiy. And they must do everything possible to assure NO ACCESS is given to any child regardless of whether your friends or friendly with the parents or not. Saying" hello" is not establishing a repor with a person, it is one or two words of a greeting its called being polite, however once a "conversation" ensues time IS taken away from their job function and they are now faced with being polite & talking to YOU or taking care of business which may mean taking care of the kids they are assigned. Your feelings are yours and i respect that as you have children in the school. However YOUr feelings may not be the same as someone elses. these are matters you all need ot discuss with the Administration what you as parents feel comfortable with and what the SD is legaly bound to do to insure that the safety of every student is foremost. I am giving my opinion and stating facts as i know them. We can argue or disagree on method or protocol but i hope the bottom line is we ALL want a safe environment for these children.

Hilarity Jones December 20, 2012 at 03:33 pm

Once again, you have completely ignored what has been said. Please inform everyone where in any of these posts that anyone said thery felt the need to "barge" into the school, classroom, lunchroom, or linger in the hallways uninvited. All that has been said is that if a parent feels the need to communicate with the people in charge of their children while at school, they should be allowed to do so. Not one comment indicated uninvited, unsupervised, without an appointment, or anything else.to that effect, just yours. So, once again this string has turned into the "I'm Lorraine DeVita and I'm the expert" commentary, with all bells, whistles, and doomsday prophecies associated with it. Standard fare.

Hilarity Jones December 20, 2012 at 03:38 pm

Oh, and I forgot, the standard hair splitting.

Andrew Coen (Editor) December 20, 2012 at 03:40 pm

Please keep comments civil. Thank you.

Lorraine DeVita December 20, 2012 at 03:44 pm

You need to chill and stop making this personal . Doesnt do the topic any good. I am stating my opinions people will draw from them as they wish I am not personaly making this an issue with you or about you and i am simply stating my opinions. Yours differ , i stated thats your perogative. I have not attacked you point of view nor you personally i countered reasonably and at no time tried to demean you or your point of view . not everyone is going to agree or disagree - People will come to their own conclusions. I ended with "We can argue or disagree on method or protocol but i hope the bottom line is we ALL want a safe environment for these children."

Chris Wendt December 20, 2012 at 04:47 pm

Let's go to the videotape: http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/Decisions/volume42/d14758.htm
Per the Commissioner of Education, Appeal of Havens Decision 14,578, parents have no right to escort their children to their classrooms upon entering school. Then there's this: http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/Decisions/volume33/d12997.htm Appeal of Canazon, Decision 12,997, a school was upheld in its decision barring a parent from observing health classes. There is no inherent right of parents to observe classes, but some parents may do so with the advance permission of the principal, who may also deny requests to observe classes.

Seaford Mom December 21, 2012 at 02:27 am

I find it hard to believe you actually think parents have no right to enter a school unless invited. This is a PUBLIC school and these are our children. My daughter forgot her book at home and I went to drop it at the greeters desk, which is where all visitors check in before "waltzing" around the school, and I was not let in. I think if I spoke directly to the greeter she would have received the book with no problem. Is this the end of the world, no, but it shows that when you can communicate face to face WHEN POSSIBLE it is a good thing. I just don't understand how anyone can actually believe that parents should not try to be a part of their children's education by being present and observant in the schools. The government doesn't own our children, we own these schools and the teachers and staff should be monitored by us. We are responsible for our children even when they are at school.

Pisces December 21, 2012 at 05:58 am

Really!?!?! This is an argument? I imagine that there are parents in Connecticut who would be appalled at such a lack of sensitivity. A holiday party....really?!? There are moms and dads who have shopped for holiday gifts and they have children who will
NEVER receive them. A little perspective is in order here. Thanks to all who have kept our kids safe throughout the year and now during such a trying time

Libra Balance December 22, 2012 at 09:42 pm

It's great that precautions are being taken. In our school district East Meadow, we didnt even receive any safety advising letters or the issue wasn't even addressed. That really strikes us in shock. I hope schools throughout Long Island takes safety measures. Yes I agree we need better security an armed guard and yes we need to show ID. No one should be able to walk in the school whenever they please a side from having to pick up a sick child or dropping off lunch etc or picking up their child for a doctors appt. we want our children to be safe when in school. So cameras, armed guard, security, metal detectors should be in every school. Why have all those things in an airport when 200 or so people boarding a flight. The same concept for schools kids. There are way more kids in the school, we need to be protected too. No one should be able to walk into the school with a gun or knife in their backpacks or in general. We all parents want our teachers and children safe at all times. Let's be thankful for what we have and advocate safety for schools. Our children are our happiness our lives we love then. The world is full of all kinds of people we can't control them but we can control who has access to our schools.