School safety on the agenda in Ridley and Springfield
SPRINGFIELD » The Springfield School Board’s recent conversation has been, and will likely continue to be, focused on safety. The topic has dominated business in and out of schools, in private conversations and around kitchen tables throughout the community.
The board’s public comment period on Thursday night featured five parents who addressed the subject. Kathleen Forrest, who has three children in the district, began by saying she supported more security in the schools so that “every child is safe.”
Forrest acknowledged that adding security measures or personnel would come at an additional cost. “But that is a tax burden I would accept,” Forrest said, and indicated she felt other parents would as well.
The following two speakers echoed the same sentiments. While each individual understood that discussions were being held by the board and administration, they suggested that a special “town hall” meeting be held on the topic of safety and security.
Jillian Burke, the fourth speaker, said she had been actively going to meetings at other districts for a sense of what is being done. She said comments made by students at those meeting were particularly compelling. She cited middle school children as particularly in need of finding a safe place, literally and psychologically.
“We can’t be a town that relies on ‘see something and say something.’ We have to ‘do something,’” said Burke, advocating more teacher-training on how to communicate with students on this particular issue.
“Parents are scared. We are looking to all of you,” Burke told the board.
Sean Jones, the final public speaker, had a safety issue closer to home. Jones said his daughters, who attend the high school, have been continuously harassed by a male student. The school and police had been informed, and some measures had been taken, including separate transportation for the male student. However, Jones felt the district had not done enough to keep his daughters safe in the building during the school day.
“If this is your idea of being vigilant in providing safety, it is my opinion that you might see Springfield as the next school on TV,” Jones said chillingly.
After addressing the board on that matter, Jones went on to criticize the amount, location or identification of handicapped parking (which he is entitled to use).
Board Vice President Bruce Lord said while response is not usually procedure for public comment, it was appropriate to share district and board activities.
“We have been talking, meeting and emailing quite a lot with (Springfield Police) Chief (Joe) Daly, FBI agents and security experts,” Lord said.
One outcome is the intention to hire a director of school safety. Extra security in schools is expected to take the form of working with teachers and children. In acquiring expertise, Lord said, “We will hear what we need to do and will be taking steps forward. We are not waiting for (the issues) to go away.
Board President Jennifer Lofland said there would be certain aspects the board felt it could not yet talk about in public.
“We are trying not to act too hastily, but will be methodical, scientific and logical,” said Lofland, a research scientist. “You have our assurance that just because you haven’t seen what we are doing does not mean we are not doing anything.”
As the board unanimously approved the adjudication of a student discipline matter, Solicitor Mark Sereni used the opportunity to explain the process when a student is to be excluded from school in excess of 10 days. Sereni described the board’s role as the equivalent of a jury when hearing the case.
“The board would not know anything about the alleged case, nor should they, as they could be sitting as the jury, Sereni said, referring to the situation raised by Sean Jones.
Superintendent Tony Barber, who usually ends each meeting with comments and/or salutations, did not attend due to illness.