At its latest meeting, the Voorhees Township Public Schools district listened to parents thoughts on improving school safety.
At the latest Voorhees Township Public Schools Board of Education meeting, parents voiced concerns about the district’s approach to school safety management in light of the Feb. 14 Parkland shooting.
A majority of the meeting reviewed the discussions held at Monday night’s school safety forum, which was hosted by the Voorhees Township Police Department, and included the administration of both VTPS and Eastern Regional High School.
For VTPS specifically, parents pitched new security measures the administration could instill in the elementary and middle schools, such as adding anonymous tip lines on the VTPS websites that go directly to the police department.
Board President Richard Nelson opened the discussion by reassuring parents that, when it comes to school security, Voorhees is ahead of the curve.
“We’ve definitely take the safety of our children and our teachers, and anybody else who is in our building, very seriously,” Nelson said. “I think we’re ahead of a lot of other schools in the area. We’ve always been ahead of it. We work really well with the police department and the township (committee).”
Echoing concerns from Monday night, Nelson stressed that in the habit of open and unlocked doors, the faculty needs to hold each other accountable, stressing staff members who do not follow such procedures should be reported up the ranks.
Nelson also said that, in the case of potential threats, it’s crucial the information goes directly to the police.
“I’d rather have somebody make an anonymous tip, have it go right to the police department. Let them investigate it,” he said. “They’re better at investigating things than we are.”
Parents brought up a series of security concerns they’ve witnessed, such as people actually entering the building without needing to provide proper identification.
They said anyone entering the building should always be “buzzed in,” and then have to show ID before going further into the building.
“I think this lack of attention to who’s being buzzed in is unacceptable,” parent Dale Kushner-Brooks said.
Kushner-Brooks, along with other parents, expressed concerns about students not knowing what to during emergencies, as often it’s hard to differentiate lockdown and lockout drills.
Parents suggested conducting assemblies for students to clarify these kind of procedures.
“It does sound like the kids need to be a little bit more, without scaring them, but some kind of more training, so they know what to do,” parent Jessica Soffian said
Parents mentioned they feel teachers are unprepared for such incidents, as they’ve heard teachers are told to resort to pages in a manual depending upon a certain drill.
Aside from clear communication with the district, parents stressed the need for transparency between the district and the community, brainstorming alternative ways of notifying parents on crucial information in a timely matter.
“It’s the cutting edge of what’s going on in this industry now. It’s called mass notification,” parent Stephen Cassidy said. “It’s limitless what you could do, but there is technology out there.”
Other parents suggested creating emergency plans outside of the buildings, so in the event of an emergency, groups of students and teachers could meet at a designated intersection. According to one parent, there are companies that specialize in school and campus safety the district could look into.
The before- and after-school car pickup line was another point of conversation, as some parents say safeties do not consistently ask for the identification of parents and babysitters picking up students.
Amid the growing list of physical security concerns, parents also discussed the necessity for mental health care, especially adding more counselors for elementary students.
Deputy Mayor Jason Ravitz told the board and parents the district has the township’s support in any future security endeavours. He says after Police Chief Louis Bordi reviews all of the recommendations, the township will start the process with school administration in vetting out ideas to adopt.
“I assure everyone that there will be quick follow up on issues that were brought up,” Ravitz said. “We will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of our kids, the teachers, people who work in these buildings at all times.”
