SCHOOL COMMITTEE – School safety review shows need for security updates

By Barbara Taormina

REVERE – The School Committee’s Safety and Security Subcommittee met this week to hear the results of a school safety review by Guidepost, an international security consulting firm.

There was good news and some room for improvement areas in Guidepost’s report.

According to Guidepost reps, the school district has good security features, but they are not well integrated or consistently used.

Guidepost pointed out that there is no district-wide security plan. Guidepost did note that all schools had enhanced drills and emergency training. But there is no bystander reporting system in place that would allow anyone to relay a message of concern to a security staff member. Guidepost said that it was a relatively new measure, and it involves multiple ways students or staff can report concerns.

Guidepost also highlighted the fact there is no behavior threat assessment management program that can evaluate concerns and monitor situations.

“They would be staying on top of school temperature and culture,” said Guidepost. And they would connect with programs to support academic, social and emotional growth.

“We have a lot of pieces in place,” said Superintendent Dianne Kelly. “It’s the structure around them and writing them down so there’s an actual policy or procedure we’re following that we need. Writing it down and organizing it will help us implement it.”

Guidepost also looked at the security equipment in each school. They found the majority of schools do not have panic buttons or distress alarms such as those often found in banks. Guidepost said those are typically located in the principal’s office, or the nurse’s office.

Internal local alarm and devices were deactivated. All schools have video surveillance cameras, but many cameras are malfunctioning, and some haven’t worked for extended periods of time. Guidepost also noted that no one actively monitors the security cameras, so they are now only useful for forensics.

Kelly interjected to add that security staff monitor surveillance cameras in the district’s larger buildings. She also added that there was money on this year’s budget to replace and update security cameras.

Guidepost highlighted the district’s security staff but noted their identification badges weren’t always displayed.