In a few weeks we will
pause and remember the innocent lives taken at Sandy Hook Elementary School
during a violent and horrific rampage that shocked the country and prompted a
national conversation—once again—about gun control, mental illness, and school safety.
After the senseless and cruel murders, the parents of
the victims were left to wander the country pleading with lawmakers to
update and change gun laws as one way to prevent a similar massacre in the
future. Unfortunately, powerful
lobbyists and political gridlock obstructed common sense gun reform, and
nothing really changed. Although the families may feel
they were not heard through the political process, they should take some small
comfort knowing that parents, police, school leaders, and local policymakers
here in Massachusetts have renewed efforts to ensure schools are safe and
secure for all children and the teachers who care for them.
I often remind principals
that school safety is Job One and everything else is secondary. Fortunately, here in Needham our principals
and teachers embrace that responsibility with resolve and purpose in an ongoing
effort to review school safety protocols, procedures, and practices. So far this year Town and School
administrators have been involved in the following activities:
• Principals and administrators have reviewed
and discussed the Massachusetts Task Force on School Safety and Security. The report, commissioned by the Governor last
year, details recommendations and steps communities and schools should consider
to enhance student safety and wellbeing.
• Principals, staff, and administrators have
convened a School Safety Taskforce to review safety procedures, including
emergency drills and lockdowns, to learn if a more robust and responsive
emergency response protocol is appropriate for Needham schools. As part of this effort, administrators and police
officials have recently received training and information about the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform,
Counter, Evacuate) program to determine what makes sense to introduce in our
schools for students and staff.
• The Town Manager, Kate Fitzpatrick, and I
formed The Needham Schools Emergency Advisory Team (NSEAT) in the aftermath of
Sandy Hook to meet semiannually with the Town’s public and private school
leaders to discuss school safety, security, and health and share ideas and
strategies. Our recent fall meeting
included public safety officials and school leaders from the Needham Public
Schools, St. Sebastian’s, St. Joe’s Elementary School, Monsignor Haddad Middle
School, Walker School, and Olin College.
A recent Needham Schools Spotlight cable show highlighted school
security: October 2014: Needham Schools Spotlight: School Security
• Health and Safety Committees, comprised of
school staff and parents, meet at each school to discuss student health,
safety, and wellbeing. And the School
Committee and administration have prioritized Social and Emotional Learning
(SEL) programs throughout the school system, including providing SEL advocates
at each school who assist the principal and staff with initiatives designed to
help students develop resilience, tolerance, care, respect, and awareness about
those around them. Guidance counselors,
nurses, coaches, administrators, and teachers provide the structure, support,
and encouragement young people need to confront personal and emotional
difficulties that may prevent them from participating fully in the life of the
school. Connecting young people to a
caring adult is the most important safety and security feature a school system
can invest in.
We still have more work
ahead of us; school safety and security requires regular and ongoing discussion
and planning. I will never promise that
we have it all figured out or guarantee that tragedy will not strike our
community or schools. Our efforts are
robust but imperfect.
But we will continue to
think about the unthinkable and work with public safety officials, staff,
students, and families to consider and implement plans and protocols that are
appropriate and responsible.
And on December 14th we will remember, once again, why this work is so important.
And on December 14th we will remember, once again, why this work is so important.
In memory of Daniel G. Barden (2005-2012) and all of his classmates and teachers
at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut
