School Board Declines To Hire A Third Security Guard

By Laurie Borst

At last week’s Board of Education meeting, the high school administration presented a proposal requesting the addition of a third full-time, daytime security guard at the high school. This position would be in addition to the two full-time security guards and the school resource officer that presently patrol the building. At that time, school board members requested more information.

This week at the board’s January 16 meeting, the administration provided the documentation that was requested regarding scheduling and rotations.

“I am still concerned about this request even after reading the additional information which was supplied,” said board member Paul Mangiafico. “Some of the difficulties identified by this documentation, students opening doors and blocking them open, lead to grave concern about the significant number of children leaving building. And blocked doors, anyone can enter.

“The administration wants us to add a full-time security person. I’m not at all sold on that approach to solving this problem,” said Mr Magiafico. “Every time we have a problem we’re going to add security people?”

Questions were raised regarding the security cameras in the building. Superintendent Evan Pitkoff explained that the tapes are used primarily for archival research of events that had taken place, they are not viewed in real time under the district’s surveillance policy.

The documentation cited 253 instances of “security breaches” since start of school year. High School Principal Arlene Gottesman reported that some type of consequence resulted for each instance.

Data had not been compiled to track the number of times doors were discovered blocked open, and no one was caught leaving or returning to school. Teachers, custodians, and security will close doors when they are found open and the incident does not get reported.

Mr Mangiafico also expressed concern because the request was brought outside of budget process.

Board member Tom Gissen shared Mr Mangiafico’s concerns. “I thank the administration for this thorough report. But, last year, this very request came up. Last year, the budgeting process ended up cutting many, many important positions. We had to make hard choices. Last year was a particularly bad year and more positions had to be eliminated.

“I don’t know that we can say that this position, out of all of those we cut that are having a negative impact on the children, is this the most important position to add back,” Mr Gissen continued. “That’s why we do it in the budget process where we can look at it, debate amongst ourselves, and we can say which position is most important. Is this more important than a history teacher, or an elementary teacher?” he asked.

“I am not downplaying anything that is said in here. I looked at these things and don’t believe one more security guard will mitigate the circumstances,” Mr Gissen explained. “Smoking is not a security issue, it’s a discipline issue. I don’t believe one security guard will solve the problem. “

Board member David Nanavaty voiced concern because the report showed duplication of efforts. He felt there could be better management of resources and that need had not been proven. Mr Nanavaty also agreed with his fellow board members regarding the need to make such decisions in budget season.

“You’ve all given compelling arguments against this,” board member Lisa Schwartz stated. “But this is a security issue which concerns me a great deal.”

“Everyone takes security very seriously. If I believed that there was a significant threat, and this security guard would be the answer, I think the entire board would vote for it,” Mr Gissen stated. “But to solve the problem and make it 100 percent safe, you basically would need to build a prison. Security guards will not stop the worst-case nightmare that someone may have planned out. A lot of what [our current guards] do is not truly security. It’s discipline. We keep moving to a tougher situation, punish people faster, punish them harder. Whether it’s substance abuse, the discipline policy, bringing in dogs, we seem to spend more time on it than anything else. We need to have a free and open academic center.”

The motion failed. Lisa Schwarz and Elaine McClure voted for, David Nanavaty, Paul Mangiafico and Tom Gissen voted against.

In other matters, Dr Pitkoff advised the board that they needed to provide representation on upcoming committees, for the paraprofessional contract and searches for a new assistant superintendent, the director of buildings and grounds, and Sandy Hook School’s assistant principal. Dr Pitkoff is currently working to develop schedules for the personnel searches.

Mrs McClure and Mrs Schwartz expressed a desire to work with the committee that will hire a new assistant superintendent. Tom Gissen volunteered to work on the search for a new director of buildings and grounds. Mr Nanavaty and Mr Mangiafico will serve on the committee writing the paraprofessional contract. Andrew Buzzi will participate on the committee to find a new Sandy Hook School assistant principal.

Mr Gissen gave an update on the high school expansion project. He reported that the Architect Selection Committee will be meeting with the two finalists on the evening of January 18. The two finalists are Fletcher Thompson and Castle Boos.

Assistant Superintendent Alice Jackson presented a proposal for a new freshman course for social studies. The high school social studies department reviewed the Modern European History course that is currently offered and recommended replacing it with a course entitled Western Studies I. This would be a one semester, required course that would review Western history and thought from ancient times through World War I.

This course will include teaching interdisciplinary writing, which is an important piece of the CAPT test given to sophomores. The mention of the CAPT test raised red flags with several board members who expressed concern about the test driving the teaching. Dr Pitkoff reassured the members that district policy did not allow teaching to the test.

Mrs Jackson explained that this course provided a venue for teaching interdisciplinary writing in timely fashion to bolster students’ skills. The CAPT scores should reflect improvement in this area.

Mr Nanavaty questioned the staffing requirements associated with the new course.

Mrs Jackson explained it is a 0.4 position. It could be within context of a present position or part of another teaching position that may be added.

Board members were impressed with the presentation and reorganization of course.

The Western Studies I course was approved unanimously.