Revere City Councillors mull metal detectors, security concerns at RHS

By Barbara Taormina

Safety at Revere High School was on the City Council agenda this week. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro filed a motion cosponsored by Councillors Angela Guarino-Sawaya, Robert Haas, Michelle Kelley, Joanne McKenna, Marc Silvestri and Anthony Zambuto that the mayor, the superintendent of schools and the chief of police investigate the feasibility of hiring a security company and/or adding more school resource officers to Revere High School to quell problems with student fighting. The councillors also wanted a response to their request within 30 to 60 days.

But Cogliandro asked that the motion be placed on file. “They’ve added campus supervisors who are also security and a school resource officer. And the police department’s behavioral health unit is also there. It looks like what’s being done is working,” said Cogliandro.

Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas said it has been quiet at the high school, and he agreed with placing the motion on file, which was done.

A second motion filed by Cogliandro with the same group of cosponsors requested the mayor and school superintendent to explore the cost to install metal detectors at the high school. Cogliandro said he was torn about whether to keep the motion in committee or file it. He suggested that portable detectors that could be moved as needed might be a possibility.

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya acknowledged that a lot of people don’t like the idea of metal detectors in a school, but she stressed that the safety and security of students was the major concern. “Just the awareness of a metal detector will be enough to keep weapons out and protect our children,” she said, adding that she wanted the motion to remain in committee where it can continue to be discussed.

“Keep it in committee,” said Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto. “I think we need to talk about it. There’s a way to get it done.”

Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna noted that 6,300 weapons went through security at the airport. “I always believed in metal detectors. I wanted them here at City Hall,” said McKenna. “If we are going to keep our children safe, this is the way to do it.”

City Council President Marc Silvestri said it was the will of the council to keep the motion in the public safety committee. “Metal detectors may not be the answer, but a conversation involving everyone – parents, teachers, students – on keeping our schools safe is important,” he said.