I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the
progress we have made, and expect to make, in the ensuing months.
Three well-attended School Safety Forums were held in
December during which a great deal of information was shared and input received
from community members. The
administrative team and school staff have devoted a great deal of time and
effort in the last several months to developing a plan and procedure for making
our schools a safer place for our students and staff.
The following steps have been taken thus far:
·
A COPS Grant was written and received in order
to address school safety matters
·
A Vulnerability Assessment (by Safe Havens,
Inc.) has been completed on each of our school buildings
·
Three Public Safety Forums were conducted in
December
·
Knox Box’s have been installed in each of our
schools
·
An INTELLIKEY system is now being used for the
locks on school doors
·
Interior door locks were installed in our
schools classrooms
·
Signs have been added to school doors, directing
visitors to sign in
·
Staff lock down drills have been held at
YHS/HMS, others to follow
·
Administrative Team has met a number of times with
Chief Morrill (Yarmouth Police Department)
·
School secretaries have attended a meeting with
Chief Morrill
·
Police officers are more visible in schools
(lunch with students)
·
All schools have one or two emergency evacuation
kits (“Go Bags”)
·
“Power Announcement” Program is being explored
in order to have enhanced communication with parents
·
Training sessions for school secretaries have
been held and others are being planned
·
Most exterior doors are now locked during the
school day
·
A State Homeland Security grant for $6.500 has
been written and received for the purchase of safety equipment
In the upcoming months, with the support of our School
Committee, we plan to implement the following for our schools:
·
Emergency Management Plans are being updated for
all schools
·
Lock Down drills will be planned/practiced in
each school
·
Panic buttons will be installed
·
A remote Entry Control System will be installed
on main entrance doors
·
Exterior cameras will be installed in some
school parking lots and/or entrances
·
Numbering will be added to exterior school doors
·
A Lanyard system for identification of staff and
visitors will be initiated
·
Two-way radios will be put into place for use by
administrators
·
Additional staff training is being planned
Our school community is deeply saddened by recent events and
the tragic loss of lives in Newtown, Connecticut. It is our desire to have our children feel
safe and secure in our school buildings.
This recent event, and others, is a sobering reminder that terrible
things can happen anywhere.
Please know that we do not take these actions lightly, and
we know for some this will represent a cultural change. It is our hope that our great community will
work to implement these changes in a reasonable and thoughtful manner, and that
our students, staff and parents will realize a safe school environment, while
maintaining our positive school climate.
My sincere appreciation to Chief Mike Morrill and the
Yarmouth Police Department for their excellent advice and cooperation
throughout this process. The School
Committee, administration, staff, students and the entire school community have
provided valuable ideas, input and support.
Thank you,
Ron Barker, Interim Superintendent
