Bedford Schools Safety Committee Work Presented

Recommendations supported by the Bedford Central School District's safety committee were presented last Wednesday before the school board.

The committee, which included school principals, parents and police from Bedford, Mount Kisco and Pound Ridge, was expanded in scope this year, with its findings taking on a high priority due to the December school shooting in near by Newtown, CT.

The findings from the committee are broad in scope, calling for a mix of technological upgrades, policies and an increase in personnel.

On the policies and procedures side, the recommendations call for having each school in a locked mode with just one entry point as a way to control movement in and out. This would be combined with a consistent visitor protocol for each school, where people coming in are expected to bring identification and be ready to present it, which would help with verification and knowing who is present. 

Assistant Superintendent for Business Mark Betz, who is on the committee and gave a presentation on the findings also noted that there needs to be a responsibility of all staffers to make sure that entry and exit doors are closed. 

“It's everyone's responsibility to know what the rules are and to enforce the rules," he said, which was a theme he touched on several times. Betz also said that staff would be responsible for reporting people who are unidentified.

The committee also explored what to do for before and after school, as well as handling non-school-day events. This would involve limiting before-school access to visitors, excluding students participating in early morning programs; limiting visitors to assigned building areas during events; having enough staff for events; and having supervisory staff monitor locations where after-school activities are being held.

Personnel changes are also key to the findings. Betz said findings include hiring five elementary school security monitors, which would be in addition to existing monitors already at Fox Lane High School and Fox Lane Middle School. A salary schedule for monitors would range from about $28,000 to $40,000 per employee, not including benefits. The district also plans on continuing to use an outside security service for the rest of the current school year, with trained staff assuming the responsibility in the fall.

Another finding is to have employees who will have designated security roles at entrances, which could be achieved through cross training existing personnel. Staff would also be trained in six response categories: fire drills, shelter in place, lockout, lockdown, early dismissal and evacuation. Staff will be trained to know all six categories.

The findings also have a significant hardware and technology component. This includes installing new exterior cameras - they have already been through a pilot program - using devices to to lock down open areas and upgrading the existing phone and PA technology. The hardware aspect would cost the district roughly $350,000 and could potentially be funded through the current school year budget, according to Betz.

'Purpose' a Big Element; Police in Schools Not in Findings

In his discussion, Betz said that there needs to be a purpose for the recommendations, with it being being something “that actually could be accomplished by virtue of the recommendation.”

Looking at purpose also helped in prioritizing what to include.

“We could spend lots of money on lots of things and not really have the outcome that we wanted to have," Betz said.

One notable item not included in the findings was a request from some parents in the Newtown aftermath to have a police presence, which would cost more than monitors. Betz told the board that they were not sure it would provide a purpose that was strong enough. 

Pound Ridge Police Chief David Ryan argued that putting police in schools would not necessarily serve as a deterrent.

“You now, that's a tough debate," he acknowledged before giving his opinion. "You, it's easy to say putting a police officer in school would be the be all, end all security.”

Ryan also explained that if a police officer is asked to deal with a situation like Newtown, then they would need to wear "military garb" for that level of aggression. However, he supports improving infrastructure in buildings, saying that it “really give us a better opportunity than just simply having an officer there.”

One challenge raised is that a threat might not be clear. Board Vice President Eric Karle, for example mentioned dealing with a threat that is amorphous, while one committee member noted that there has to be threat reassessment done.

Awareness, Cooperation Also Supported

Aside from direct changes, cooperation with school officials and law enforcement, along with communication were also given importance.

Betz noted that one finding includes creating an environment where students and adults realize is it fine to talk with officials and authorities about their concerns.

Ryan brought up what he called a statistic that you "will never see," referring to mental health and support, which he praised the district for handling currently. He also noted that there is a "phenomenal" level of communication within the district regarding kids. He added that while there is doom and gloom talk, the district already has mechanisms in place and doing them well. What the district has now, he added, can serve as a foundation.

What's Next?

Superintendent Jere Hochman explained that he will take the information, then meet with law enforcement, security advisors and administrators who would have to implement changes. After that, he plans to revisit the topic at the board's June 18 meeting with an administrative recommendation on what to do.