Parents relay fears over school security, safety at CR forum
HOLLAND – School safety and security was on the mind of Mark Klein, the superintendent of the Council Rock School District, as he met with more than 100 parents at the Hillcrest Elementary School Monday night.
,W wDs WKH firsW Ln D sHrLHs Rf sHcurLWy meetings Klein has put together for district parents in the wake of recent incidents, both nationally and locally, including the Newtown, Conn., shootings and a threat at Council Rock High School South.
“We’re inviting conversation on what the school district can do to strengthen security,” Klein said to open the discussion. “We are aware that there are dangers we have to be cognizant about.”
Many of the parents joined in the dis- cussion, offering suggestions and relaying fears they face as they send their children off to school each day. Some of the fHDrs wHrH JHnHrDO, RWKHrs PRrH sSHcLfic. One parent talked of walking right into his child’s school when coming to pick her up and another spoke of a back door at her child’s school that is sometimes open.
Klein listened to the concerns, addressing each one individually. He nodded appreciatively as several parents offered suggestions, each one written on a large board by Joe Nacclay, Principal of Rolling Hills Elementary School. The suggestions ranged from a key card system to enter the buildings to guards placed at the school for arrival and dismissal times. Klein admitted those were the times that schools are “most vulnerable,” and also spoke of the need to make students feel
safe while not scaring them with a ubiquitous security presence.
“We walk a thin line between security and creating anxiety for our kids,” Klein said. “There’s a difference between a school and a prison.”
To back up his point, Klein reiterated that statistically and realistically speaking, there is no safer place for a child than school. The superintendent quoted a statistic gleaned from a 2008 Bureau of Education study that found the odds of a child being killed by a stranger while at school are 1 in 17 million.
“The greatest danger is you,” Klein told the parents, stopping to clarify that a familiar face has a greater chance than a stranger to gain access to the inside of a school.
Despite the odds he quoted, Klein spoke repeatedly of the need to address the safety issue with the community in preparation for cebruary’s school board meeting, during which he hopes to present to the board his recommendations for changes in the school’s security practices.
Modular learning units at several of the district’s elementary schools was a common theme, as students travel from the “modular” to the school building and vice versa.
“The logistics of the modular is a real dilemma for us,” Klein admitted.
Klein was joined at the meeting by several school board members, a few district principals and Debbie Moskovitz and Donna coisy from the Council Rock Coalition for Healthy Youth. Part of that group’s agenda is assisting parents in dealing with troublesome behavior from their children that could lead to more serious problems. Moskovitz offered her group’s assistance several times, offering to host programs at school, in a private home or pretty much anywhere she could gather “at least a few parents.”
Laura Pumo, mother of two Council Rock elementary school students, praised the superintendent for his proactive stance on school violence and security.
“ft was an excellent decision to bring parents in and get the feedback,” Pumo said. “Too many times the administration has made decisions without adequate feedback. f learned that our community wants to make changes.”
Klein would not rule out anything as he and the rest of the district’s administration tackles the problem of school security. One man suggested the district “leave safety to those who do it for a living,” prompting Klein to assure the attendees that he has been in constant touch with the chiefs from the four municipalities served within Council Rock’s boundaries. He reiterated that the district and the community must keep their focus and not forget about the need for security as memories of recent, news-making events fade.
“The problem with vigilance is that it’s never a straight line,” Klein said, motioning his hand like needle on a Richter scale. “Right now, we’re at the peak of our vigilance.”
At one point, Klein wondered out loud if security needs wRuOd rHDFK WKH SRLnW RI rHTuLrLnJ LdHnWLfiFDWLRn RI HYHryone entering a school, even for something like a school concert.
“f don’t have the answer, and f don’t want to check fD’s,” Klein said. “ff you’re going to hold me to that level of accountability then you have to do the same at churches, at the movies, everywhere.”
Klein then admitted that while schools all over the state and country are doing and will continue to do everything they can to keep school safe, he’s not sure it is enough.
“f don’t know if we can take away all the risk we see today,” he said.
The next security forum will be held Jan. 22 at Maureen Welch Elementary School and the third at Newtown Middle School Jan. 30. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m.