Superintendent George Rafferty reviewed security measures in the district in the wake of the recent high school shooting in Florida.
As with many school districts across the country, school security was one of the discussion items at this week’s meeting of the Mt. Laurel Schools Board of Education.
Superintendent George Rafferty said he wanted to update the board and community on the security measures in the district in the wake of the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead and others injured.
Rafferty said in addition to the district’s current security efforts, the district would also undertake several specific steps in the following days.
According to Rafferty, steps include reviewing and reexamining all security procedures for the district, reexamining district facilities and buildings, continuing to work with community partners such as the municipality and Mt. Laurel Township Police Department, accepting and reviewing feedback from the community and communicating with the community in ways parents and families can assist the district in keeping schools safe.
“We all know that this may involve doing things differently going forward in the way that we work in our schools together as parents and teachers,” Rafferty said.
Rafferty said the district would also be willing to seek out consultations from experts whenever necessary.
“We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we known that the road ahead needs to be a continuing, evolving road that we work on,” Rafferty said. “Safety is not a static thing. It’s something that we have to continue to improve on and we get better at as we move forward.”
Rafferty said the district would also continue to keep current preventative measures in place, such as keeping classroom doors locked and ensuring schools are equipped with support personnel, mental health providers, school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, nurses and learning support personnel for students.
According to Rafferty, the district would also continue to do more in addition to the various security drills the district already runs, such as active shooter drills, lockdowns, lockouts, shelter in place and fire drills.
Rafferty also asked parents and members of the community to continue to pay close attention to the signs and warnings that may alert the district of the need to take action.
According to Rafferty, parents should continue to monitor children by listening and gaining a better understanding of what they are doing online and to listen to what they may be hearing from others.
“We must report them (signs and warnings of danger) and never be so busy in our lives that we don’t act on our concerns if we believe doing so will avert danger and make us safer,” Rafferty said.
During the meeting, parent Melissa Jost also offered suggestions to improve school security and offered a petition signed by more than 150 parents who shared her concerns.
Jost suggested increasing the Mt. Laurel Township Police Department’s presence in the district to the point where an officer could be stationed at each school building during the school day.
“I think for the safety and security for not just the students, but the teachers as well, it’s just a peace of mind. When kids walk in and you see the police, you feel the sense of security,” Jost said.
Jost also suggested scheduled security drills during times when a school’s police officer would already be would be on location, and requiring custodians to wear some type of uniform shirt to make them easier to identify.
Board president Marc Jones responded to Jost by noting that with each new school security-related incident that happens across the country, the district undergoes a new reevaluation.
“We’re investigating everything … we do have procedures in place, and we are going to look at making them even better,” Jones said.
The next meeting of the Mt. Laurel Schools Board of Education is scheduled for March 27 at 7 p.m. at the district’s administrative building on Mt. Laurel Road.
