S. Huntington Takes New Look at Security

In the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in December, the South Huntington School District has begun a review of school security and building safety protocols.

According to school superintendent Dr. David Bennardo, reviews of internal security procedures building and access control measures are being undertaken, in an effort to identify issues across the school system.

“We’ve met. We’ve garnered suggestions. We’ve tightened procedures,“ said  Bennardo in a briefing before the school board Wednesday night. “There is nothing we can do to prevent absolute madness. But we can for the most part keep people out of our buildings who don‘t belong here.”

School security planning is responsive to the changing nature of risks, noted the superintendent. “We’re always reacting to the last thing that happened,” he said. “It changes every time. After Columbine we started looking for sullen, alienated kids, kids who dressed differently.”

In light of what occurred at Sandy Hook, three actions in particular are being contemplated by the district, aimed particularly at controlling access to school buildings.

South Huntington is looking at the operational integrity of door-buzzer systems across the district. The district is also taking a look at the possibility of  installing "panic buttons" for front door greeters to use in the event of an emergency, to signal an emergency to a designated location, such as the principal’s office.

Additionally, the district is test-piloting camera and intercom systems for use at outside entrances to buildings. “This would allow for questioning of unknown visitors and requesting of identification prior to permitting entry,” said Dr. Bennardo. “If we find that this is effective, we will make use of EXCEL money to cover this cost -- it will cost around $3,000 per building to upgrade.”

Every school district in New York State was tasked with developing a district-wide safety plan and a building level emergency response plan in accordance with a New York State Law passed in 2000 and known as Project SAVE (Safe Schools Against Violence in Education-- aka Chapter 181 of Education Law 2801-a).

Each of South Huntington’s building administrators are taking a fresh look at security procedures that have been in place in accordance with that law --  such as lockout, lockdown and ‘active-threat’ procedures. “We will review these in a tabletop exercise with a Second Precinct representative and conduct a practice drill with students and staff,” said Bennardo.

“The building principals and their teams have conducted an internal security review,” he said. “This has allowed us to determine areas of common need, while simultaneously examining issues particular to each building.”

According to the school superintendent, an adviser from Homeland Security will be coming next week to review the policies and procedures in place in the district.