School officials satisfied with new safety implementations at RHS

By Barbara Taormina

After a difficult start to the school year, things are back on track and improving at Revere High School. The School Committee’s Safety and Security Subcommittee met late last month with Police Chief David Callahan to review some of the recent data and changes at the high school. Everyone at the table agreed that the joint response from the administration and the Police Department, which included suspensions and court cases, restored normalcy to the school after two large fights.

“Some measures taken dramatically changed the school environment,” said Callahan, who mentioned some kids being taken out of school. “The good collaborative relationship between school and city services makes a huge difference,” he added.

Revere High Principal Chris Bowen presented a chart with numbers detailing incidents of discipline. Bowen focused on suspensions, expulsions or disciplinary responses schools report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. “We’re only halfway through the year and we are well below the past two years,” he said. “We’re well on track to be not where we were because of the response we had in the beginning of the year.”

Exclusionary discipline is down and alternative discipline, such as mediation, is up and that, according to school officials, has changed the climate of the school. A comprehensive survey of students and staff that asks about individual perceptions of safety and security is also in the works.

After the problems last September, an additional School Resource Officer (SRO) was assigned to the high school, and the Police Department’s Behavioral Health Unit was deployed. “It’s much better now than it was,” said Callahan, who added that two more officers are being trained to fill in and assist the SROs when needed.

Going forward in 2025, two of the four SROs at the high school will return to their regular assignments at Revere middle schools, while two will be at the high school on a daily basis.

School Superintendent Dr. Dianne Kelly said that all the school resource officers have vehicles and can travel all around the city. They can be there at a moment’s notice if needed, said Kelly, who praised the abilities of Revere’s SROs. “We have SROs who can meet kids where they are,” she said.

Committee Treasurer Anthony Caggiano highlighted the school district’s new safety and security consultant, Guidepost. “It’s a global company with a special division just for schools,” said Caggiano.

Kelly said Guidepost will audit the safety and security systems of all schools in the district. “They will look at the physical, operational and technical aspects of our school safety and security. They will tell us what security systems are working.” Kelly said Guidepost will work with the Police and Fire Departments to review safety and security plans for all school buildings, including the new high school.

“It’s good to have an outside entity come in and give an honest assessment,” said Callahan. “It lets us tighten up some areas that may need adjustment.”