New concerns about school security plan

CORNWALL — Dismay and disenfranchisement were words  one parent used to describe his reaction to the plan and the process for restricting and monitoring access to Cornwall Consolidated School (CCS).

This is a new aspect of what has been a contentious topic; security at the school, and the locking of the school’s front door.

In a letter read at the March 18 Board of Education meeting, parent and former school board member Jim Terrall was highly critical of an approach to security he said former Principal Kathleen Fitzgibbons refused to consider.

He expressed concern that the decision was made with what he called no parent debate and “minimal public discussion.�

The issue has been on the agenda of PTA and school board meetings since September, as well as a special meeting March 1 at which the board voted 5 to 1 to approve a plan for a buzz-in system with cameras. Terrall and 10 other parents also spoke at the February board meeting.

It was current Principal Robert Vaughan who broached the subject, after learning that most of the other Region One elementary schools have locked doors. When the subject brought strong opinions from opposing sides, he did extensive research, coming back to the board in December with findings of very limited risk to middle schools from unknown intruders.

He recommended a system that would alert school staff when someone entered the building; the plan did not include locking the doors. Board members rejected that plan, but remained uncommitted to either securing or leaving the building open.

The subject was back on the agenda at last week’s board meeting. Vaughan reported quotes from three bidders for comparable systems ranging from $4,500 to $6,500. But rather than select one, board members agreed to give the town’s emergency services personnel a chance to review the situation and come up with their own specifications.

EMT concerns

Rescue Captain Skip Kosciusko addressed the board with concerns about delays a buzz-in system could cause in the event of an emergency—ambulance calls in particular.

“How long a time delay we will have by being buzzed in is a big concern, “ Kosciusko said. “It is rare all responders arrive at a call at the same time. It is imperative that people traversing the security system as they arrive do not have to wait.�

Vaughan said that school building code requires an override of the system in the event of an emergency.

Board member Wynne Kavanaugh said that in contacting the other Region One schools about their security procedures, those with locked doors said they could immediately override the system.

Giving keys to the school to fire and ambulance service volunteers and guaranteeing their security is problematic. A coded entry system at the West Cornwall Firehouse is very difficult to access, Kosciusko said. A key kept in the firehouse, which is across the street from the school, would not be easy to get at.

Kosciusko said it is possible the Know Box key security system the fire department is hoping to invest in will allow the emergency dispatcher to deactivate the school security system with a radio transmission.

On the other hand, board member Irene Hurlburt said, “If I’m calling 911 from here and there’s a threat, I don’t want the security system deactivated.�

In addition to giving the fire department input, the school plans to develop a protocol for dealing with locked doors and emergencies. It will include the assignment of one or more persons to watch the front door.