Security and safety presentation made to Board of Education

MILLBROOK — The Millbrook Central School District held a meeting on Tuesday, June 4. 

The Safety Committee presented its goals review, including the Board of Education (BOE) Student and Staff Safety/Security Goals. The committee will continue to work to provide a safe and secure environment for all students and staff, and by the end of the 2018-19 school year, will provide evidence of building safety and security protocols to reflect recommendations from Altaris and/or the school resource officer (SRO).

Altaris is a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) provider that works to develop “confident and capable staff, rock solid emergency plans and dramatically safer schools with a done-for-you K-12 Emergency Management Program,” according to its website. 

A plan will be created and implemented for facilities  changes consistent with Altaris recommendations, and will continue to fulfill any safety requirements under New York State Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) legislation.  The plan will also formalize the SRO’s role and implement the required mental health curriculum and instructional supports.

Some of the plan will include: building access control, classroom lock sets, interior room numbering and an exterior lighting audit. Other additions include motion detectors, panic buttons, a single point of entry and emergency flip charts, along with a closer look at protocols and updated radio communications in all buildings as well as uniform badges and/or lanyards. 

Gates are to be installed at Elm Drive Elementary School and vape sensors will be installed as well as an anonymous reporting system.

A five year facilities plan to incorporate additional safety improvements must be developed next year with Board of Education input. Upgrades at all buildings will enable lock down from anywhere in the district. The Alden Place vestibule will be secured, as will the middle-school vestibule; the exterior door will be replaced at Elm Drive and Millbrook Middle School.

All buildings must complete 12 required drills, and formal safety teams must be created, per requirements. All buildings were to finalize the required Building Safety Plan in a final session with Altaris on June 12, after this paper went to press. All plans are to be approved over the summer, prior to a Sept. 1 deadline set by the BOE.

In formalizing the SRO role, the program uses the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) triad concept, with the SRO serving as a member of faculty/administration. The SRO can provide law-related education and act as a guest speaker. Informal counseling is permitted by the SRO, who works closely with counselors, psychologists and nurses and provides information on law and community services.

As a law enforcement officer, the SRO is a visual deterrent; defers to district administration; is an officer for the school community who investigates crimes if needed; works with other law enforcement agencies; serves as liaison between the school and police community; and is a positive role model.

The required mental health curriculum and instructional supports include county mental health training for all staff, including identifying risk behaviors; an in-district social worker for 2019-20 school year;  establishing nutrition/dietary plans; balancing mental health, mental and social well being and sleep patterns; supporting decision making and goal setting.

The district now has a curriculum that includes a focus on mental illness/disease; warning signs and risk factors; care, empathy and resilience; as well as stress management, self-concepts and self-esteem; time management; and personalities and personality theory. 

The plan presented on the 4th was prepared by Brian Fried, assistant superintendent for Business and Finance.