Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
School safety is a daily priority
Downingtown Superintendent Emilie Lonardi discusses school safety and security measures
DOWNINGTOWN »
The echoes from Parkland continue to rumble across Chester County – and the safety of students is a daily priority of officials in the Downingtown School District.
The recent Florida school shooting in which a teenage gunman took the lives of 17 people and injured 15 others before later being arrested has generated discussions of safety measures that are already in place in Downingtown.
“We were deeply saddened to hear the news of yet another school shooting this year,” Downingtown Superintendent Emilie Lonardi said in a newsletter to the school community. “Please know that we take the safety of every child every day very seriously. It is, and will always be, our top priority.”
Every school has a detailed school safety plan which is reviewed annually by district officials, the superintendent pointed out. Most recently, students participated in three different types of drills to practice what to do in the event of an emergency. The drills are held in all schools throughout the year, according to Lonardi.
Chief Security Officer Tim Hubbard works closely with local law enforcement agencies to help district officials address all safety and security-related concerns. Law enforcement agencies visit the 16 schools in the Downingtown Area School District throughout the day to perform walkthroughs. School resource officers provide an additional level of security at the district’s two high schools.
There is a borough police officer who works as a school resource officer at Downingtown West High School and she also checks on the nearby Downingtown STEM Academy. Patricia McGlone, spokeswoman for the district, noted that the students feel comfortable confiding in Downingtown Officer Stefanie Dunne and that her presence has helped the students. She praised
“We now have in excess of 1,300 security cameras throughout the district. These cameras are monitored throughout the day and allow for remote access during an emergency.” — Downingtown Area School District Superintendent Emilie Lonardi
Dunne for how she interacts with the students and keeps them safe.
Additionally, law enforcement officers view district security cameras.
“We have added to and updated our security cameras that are linked to local law enforcement,” Lonardi said. “We now have in excess of 1,300 security cameras throughout the district. These cameras are monitored throughout the day and allow for remote access during an emergency.”
Lonardi described the visitor check-in and checkout system as a comprehensive check, located at the front desk in all schools to allow for visitor authorization. This system runs a background check on each visitor every time he or she visits. Access to the schools is limited, with all exterior doors remaining locked at the beginning of each school day.
“Our front doors are now secured entrances with all guests having to go into an office where they must wait until our staff unlocks the interior door,” Lonardi said.
In addition to the aforementioned safety measures, Lonardi said the staff has been in the forefront of “creating an atmosphere of respect and caring in each school.”
“We do this through bullying prevention programs such as the Olweus program and by emphasizing regard for each other with events such as the recent Kindness Challenge,” Lonardi said. “Our school counselors, prevention specialists and student assistance teams are trained to work with, and support, our students.”
Lonardi said school officials take all threats seriously. “We hope that our parents will feel free to talk with administrators and staff about any concerns they may have or if they notice a change in their child’s behavior,” Lonardi said. “Should your child see or hear something that is out of the ordinary, or makes them feel uncomfortable, we need them to report that information to you, the parent or guardian, school officials, or local police authorities. This type of student input is a major component in the success of our school safety plan.”
She encouraged the students, parents, staff and the community that they need to work together and “we will all get there safely together.”
Earlier during this 201718 school year, school officials worked with Uwchlan Police Department when a third party reported to police that a student had sent “potentially threatening” text messages. Uwchlan police said they had Lionville Middle School students evacuate the building out of an “abundance of caution” and students relocated to nearby Downingtown East High School while police searched the school in December 2017. The evacuation occurred on the five-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which a gunman took the lives of 20 students and six staff members before taking his own life.