Mahopac Parents Call for Increased Security Presence in Buildings
More than 150 parents crowded into the auditorium at the Mahopac Falls School to hear what the Mahopac School District’s Buildings and Grounds Committee had to say about school security and safety. In light of the recent events at Sandy Hook Elementary School, parents were noticeably concerned about the safety of their children and wanted to know what measures the district would be taking to prevent a similar tragedy.
Superintendent Thomas Manko reported that board of education members and administrators had met on Sunday with officials from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, and the town supervisor’s office to review school safety plans and look for areas that needed improvement. Undersheriff Peter Convery said that all schools in the county are covered and prepared, but added that Mahopac is “light years ahead of other area schools in regard to security”
Immediate changes that were implemented included a police presence at all schools at drop off and dismissal, limiting entry and exit at all buildings to one point, and staff being assigned to that point on a full time basis rather than only at certain hours of the day. Locks on all classroom doors will be changed so that they can be locked from the inside. The video surveillance system in all schools will be reviewed, updated and expanded. Law enforcement officials will be given access to the system and will be given keys to all rooms in all buildings. The frequency of emergency drills will be increased, and teachers and staff will be trained in many different scenarios. Also under investigation is the installation of a “panic button” that would directly alert police in an emergency.
“Safety is our number one priority,” stated Manko, adding, “but there’s no question that we have to change the way we do business. Parents need to know that kids are in a safe environment.”
Parents began by questioning the sturdiness of doors and safety glass, but Mike Kennedy garnered loud applause from the audience when he told the panel, “Someone in school needs to have a gun. By the time police get there, it’s too late.” Other parents repeatedly expressed concern that the police presence would be ending and demanded that the district add a School Resource Officer to each of the elementary schools. SRO’s are currently only in the middle and high schools.
Manko indicated that the district is looking into different ways to manage this, including hiring retired law enforcement officers to act as a uniformed aides or hall monitors. Each SRO costs the district approximately fifty thousand dollars a year, with the county picking up the tab for an equal amount. Retired law enforcement officers would not need benefits, and would be already trained to handle emergency situations.
Some of the items discussed will take several weeks to cost out, and, as in the case of the video system, may need to be bid out to comply with NY State Law. Although it is a priority, and everyone in Mahopac is working to fast track the projects, the process could still take several months to complete.
By Barbara O’Hare
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
