Seaford district officials are planning to continue new security measures put in place last month following the tragic Connecticut school shooting and will consider strengthening them for next year’s budget.
In the aftermath of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. that left 26 people dead including 20 children, Seaford Superintendent Brian Conboy announced that access to the district’s four buildings would be limited to visitors. This included limiting parent participation in holiday activities held the last week before winter vacation commenced and having only one entrance at each building available for visitors to access.
Seaford Board of Education trustees explained during their Jan. 3 meeting reasons for the additional security measures and how they may be enhanced or relaxed going forward. Brian Fagan, president of the Seaford school board, said during budget planning for the 2013/14 school year, additional features like buzz entry into buildings will be explored.
“Something happened and we took action and I think it was the appropriate thing to do,” said Fagan of the district’s response to the Connecticut school tragedy. “Seaford is not going to be complacent.”
Like Wantagh-Seaford Patch on Facebook.
Conboy said the district will be communicating any additional district safety protocols related to buildings that is put in place.
“It is necessary for all schools and all districts to put responsible things in place to prevent horrible tragedies from occurring,” Conboy said. “Ultimately keeping your children safe is our number one priority."
The National Rife Association proposed on Dec. 21 having armed guards at every school in America but Conboy responded with criticism to the idea saying, "more control over the distribution and possession of weapons coupled with better identification and care for the mentally ill will have a positive and longer lasting impact in my view."
The guns are out there. Anything short of a house to house confiscation will not change that. It will take our federal government years to pass legislation to deal effectivly and humanly with the mentally ill. I want to know what is Mr. Conboy going to do "now?" Please do not pass on your responsibility to the safety of our children to the federal government.
They need to fully understand the evil acts that people are capable of doing today. The school board does not have time to sit and wonder why our society has become what it is. It needs to act decisively and in a timely manner. We take all precautions to protect our children from fires. Fire drills, sprinkler systems, fire retardant materials etc... For the life of me, I cannot understand the debate and handwringing. There are millions upon millions of guns out there now! The mentally deranged walk freely among us. The school board has to recognize this now. We do not have the luxury of debate on our current gun laws. For anyone interested, I would like to recommend a book. "Terror in Beslan." This is a study into the events that happened in Beslan Russia. Learn first hand what people are capable of doing to children.
"Weapons Possession: Possession of one or more of the weapons listed below, except possession in a classroom or laboratory as part of an instructional program or in a school-related activity under the supervision of a teacher or other school personnel as authorized by school officials. Possession includes bringing a weapon to or possessing a weapon at school." (Firearms are included in the list of weapons.) By exception, possessing a firearm is not a violation for "...a teacher or other personnel (as) authorized by school officials".
Perhaps instead of changing tours at the firehouse or other places the PO's could change tours at the schools on a rotating basis . Giving atleast some semblence of increased police presence without incurring additional costs by either the County or the SD.. This combined with additional measures being comptemplated and implemented by the District & while not perfect would possibly give pause to some and a better sense of security to most. I would also encourage many of the parents who ARE in law enfrocement to encourage their fellow officers to take that extra few minutes in their patrols to swing by their neighboring schools in their areas of assignment. Sometimes something as seemingly insignificant as a routine "driveby" can be effective.