Parents Criticize School District’s Security

Branford parents challenged various assumptions that Branford schools are safe and secure at the Board of Education’s Communications Committee meeting at the high school on March 14, one month after a school massacre of 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Many of the parents at the committee meeting responded to the presentation offered by Hamlet Hernandez, the school superintendent, offering both criticism and their own constructive suggestions on how to improve communication between the district, students, and families. Their comments were often met with applause.

Earlier in the day the school district acknowledged #NationalSchoolWalkout Day with a 17-minute event in the Branford High School gym, an event the school superintendent closed to the press. The Eagle interviewed the students two days later. Students around the country are loudly demanding strengthening gun control legislation and background checks. They chastised the NRA and the legislators taking funds from the NRA and vowed to vote to change Congress and the laws once they come of age to vote. 

Through a Powerpoint presentation, Hernandez outlined the policies and procedures in place to monitor facilities and help keep the students safe from intruders. But he did not address basic questions regarding speedy communication with parents, required fire drills and armed security guards. Nor did explain why the elementary schools are without school guards. 

Hernandez said he wanted to give an overview on how the schools conduct security and make the schools safe, something that that’s being monitored constantly. ​“It’s a top priority,” he said. ​“It’s multi-layered.”

No Security Guards at Elementary Schools

State-of-the-art video surveillance is in place, Hernandez said, which can be accessed by first responders off site. At the high school, two security guards are in place during the day, one in place during transitional periods, and two at night. One parent noted they are often not in sight. Two are in place at Walsh Intermediate School and another is planned for the Indian Neck School. None of them are armed, he added.

However, there are no security guards in place at any of the town’s three elementary schools, Hernandez said in answer to a question from the Eagle at a meeting of the Board of Finance this week, where he outlined the school budget. The budget does not reflect new funding for security measures other than an additional security guard at Walsh.

In addition, parents pointed out that the school district is not in compliance with state requirements for scheduled fire drills. According to state statutes, Hernandez said, ​“fire drills are required once a month” and a ​“crisis action drill” every three months. ​“We can do better,” he said. He did not explain why the schools were not complying with state required drills.

Steps being taken to improve security include a security audit, new interior locks, the additional security guard at Walsh, and additional staff training. He added that the school-based safety committees are being reconstituted – every school has a safe school climate committee, which can also function as the school safety committee.

The schools also work with the fire department, which gives feedback during drills and conducts inspections to ensure compliance.

Police conduct routine visits to the schools so kids are ​“accustomed to seeing them in uniform” and to keep familiar with floor plans.

​“Feedback from first responders is important,” Hernandez said.

Committee Members React

BOE member John Prins noted that Clare [Torelli, the receptionist] at the high school sits at the front desk and asked what steps she can take if she sees something suspicious, for instance a troubled kid who left the high school and returns, or someone she isn’t comfortable with… what steps should she take?

Prins seemed to be referring to an incident shortly after the Parkland shooting in which a former student returned to the school to visit a friend, necessitating police response.

Hernandez initially deferred commenting to the police and said certain protocols should not be revealed, but when pressed by Prins, he did say that she had a panic button and a radio and that people must be buzzed in through a double set of doors.

Prins also wanted a clear identification of what ​“something” is – an open door? a person? He said that is needed as ​“orientation to the community.”

Hernandez replied that support staff speak to the kids regularly and that the kids know what to report.

Prins also expressed concern about troubled students who may return… ​“it’s a tougher call.” Hernandez said, ​“That’s a police call.”

BOE member Betsy Regan encouraged messaging to students that’s ​“developmentally appropriate” because different ages process things differently. ​“Too often” kids get freaked out, she said.

Parents’ Response

Sloane Maymon, parent of a fifth grader, asked what was being done to support students at risk. ​“Is there a screening process?”

Hernandez said there is no mental health screening. He did say that the district is aware of students with special needs, and there are processes to support them, including school-based health clinics. He added that training is available for teachers to spot behavior changes and that the district is moving more toward ​“developmental guidance.”

Prins described efforts underway in Massachusetts where the police department cross-checks incidents with schools based on addresses where students may reside in an effort to see if there are situations, such as arrests or domestic violence, that may affect students’ behavior.

Another parent asked about ID badges for students. Another commented that the steps present were ​“a good start,” but that there were ​“a lot of gaps” in that it’s easy to walk around, doors are left open, and that bullying is a problem. The general belief is that the district needs to do better in many areas.

Celia Toche, a parent who has spoken at previous meetings, said that there needs to be more engagement. In terms of pickup locations, she asked, ​“How do you communicate with parents who work two towns away?” She said that there needs to be more emotional intelligence and kindness, a culture change within the district and ​“it has to start at the top.”

Pete Hawley said he was in school during the Columbine shooting in 1999. He spoke of the short distance from the entrance through the doors to get inside the school. ​“There’s nothing stopping anybody from coming in and inflicting harm to anyone of our kids at these schools,” he said. The 80-year-old guard with a flashlight makes no sense. ​“We need (armed) cops in the schools.” There are plenty of retired cops willing to do the job, he added. The audience applauded his comments.

Healey (pictured) cited the 122 deaths since Columbine. There are 130,000 secondary schools, plus elementary schools, he said. ​“I have to stay positive that it’s not going to occur here. ​“There’s nothing preventing that from happening here,” he said. He also asked about the resources for the new Walsh school, asking if bulletproof glass will be installed, if different safety measures will be put in place.

Adam Brown spent 30 years in law enforcement and has three children in Branford schools. He said that the district is ​“doing good,” but that there are ​“huge gaps.” He said his ID had been checked only once in the years he’s been involved in the school.

During the drill held at Walsh that day, Brown said teachers as well as students were frightened. He, too, recommended arming the security guards, adding that it’s easy and not expensive to certify them through the state. He recommended talking to other schools and colleges about the types of locks they used, adding that it’s ​“free advice.” He said that parents were confused and upset about the process of picking up their kids.

Brown was also critical of the high school kids being bused to Walsh during the bomb threat earlier this year. ​“All the kids were in the cafeteria… I can’t imagine the fire marshal signing off on that… What if someone had pulled the alarm there?”

Tim Shea questioned the evacuation of the school to the football field during an active shooter drill. ​“It’s not the smartest,” he said. ​“It may be safer to get them to the baseball field where they can get away.”

Another parent, Taylor Erickson (pictured), questioned the timeframe for new locks to which Hernandez replied that it’s in process, as soon as possible. She also asked, ​“Do teachers know where to go?” ​“It’s that expectation,” replied Hernandez. ​“I don’t feel like we’re well equipped,” Erickson said, prefacing her comments with the fact that Parkland was one of the safest schools and that they had drills and practiced.

She went on to say that she didn’t feel that the Branford schools are well equipped and that she’s heard parents and kids talking. Addressing BOE chair Michael Krause, she asked, ​“How do you feel about that since you’re supposed to be upholding the guidelines and protocols?”

Krause responded, ​“I was concerned… and we’ll be doing the best we can to make sure our kids are safe.” He said there’s a lot to be done regarding communication… ​“It has to improve.” Krause said they will do a better job of monitoring.

Erickson said that the board must uphold the protocols… ​“We rely on you.” She suggested that if another meeting is held an email should be sent out to the whole district.

Greg Jerolman (pictured), parent of a high school student, criticized the lack of transparency and lack of confidence within the district. He referred to the recent trespassing incident and believed there was a threat and that there was ​“doubletalk” in dealing with it. He said he believes if some wants to come in with a semi-automatic weapon, there is little that can be done.

As with other parents, Jerolman said that a level of transparency and consistency is needed, which, he believes, the board is inconsistent in showing. He added that he believes that it spills over into bullying and that such incidents occur among people who have been ​“marginalized.” He called for greater emphasis on ​“soft skills.”

Official Response: No Comment

Finally, among the parents, Pam DeMayo expressed concern that she could not get any information from school officials following the ​“breech” – the trespassing incident – the day after the Parkland shooting. She said she went to the junior coffee the night of the event and everyone she asked had no comment. She said she just wanted to know what conversation to have with her son went she came home.

“Our administration would not tell us anything… that is not acceptable.” She said that parents should be able to know what happened, adding that 180 kids did not go to school the next day. ​“There was no communication until 5 a.m. the next day,” she added. ​“That was very poor and we need to get super better at that.”

Student Reps Respond

Emily Borst said that despite parents’ concerns there has been a better attempt at communication and ​“we’re going in a positive direction and learning new ways.” She said that mental health needs to be addressed at younger ages and that more students need to be heard from. ​“There are many passionate students,” she said.

William Riggs said that positive progress has been made and he has seen growth in the student body, ​“but I would agree that many students still don’t feel really safe at school.” The audience applauded.

In an interview after the meeting Borst said the walkout earlier was a very positive experience that went very well. She said she did have an issue with how the administration handled safety issues, but that ​“the driving force behind it is that it was student led and a student-directed thing. I saw the safety side of it that the administration wanted to regulate it… I’m kind of back and forth on the issue, but we do appreciate the support of the administration,” she said.

“There’s not really an awareness … so many issues. With what’s happened in Florida, it’s so powerful how much young voices have accomplished,” Borst said.

She believes that a lot of fearfulness comes down to how you are raised. She doesn’t think she’s afraid due to advice from her parents about keeping her head up and wits about you. Direction can’t come just from the administration, she said, it should be from the students, too… from people who live it every day,

Hernandez’s Presentation

Hernandez outlined the policies and procedures in place to monitor facilities and help keep them safe from intruders.

In terms of visitor management, there’s an ​“integrated system,” with intercoms, double foyers, and surveillance; visitors must show identification and employees must wear ID badges. There’s also identification for substitute teachers. Custodians and security personnel wear uniforms and are easily identifiable. 

“Complacency and familiarity” such as buzzing people in without looking, holding the door for a second person, and not checking IDs can be problematic, Hernandez said. ​“But it’s a system designed to slow everything down.”

Internal communication, within the individual schools, is done through radio on a school-wide channel. External communication to parents is a combination of email, web notifications, joint press releases, and any written communications from the principals. There are dedicated channels to communicate with the police department.

Hernandez said he wants to empower students to report suspicious activity to an adult, repeating the slogan born in the aftermath of the 9/11/01 attack on the World Trade Center:“If you see something, say something.” It’s not clear why they don’t do so now.

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