Dr Robinson: Security Report A Valuable Tool For Improvement

By John Voket and

Eliza Hallabeck

(This is the first part of a two-part report on enhancing Newtown school district security.)

Calling security practices at Newtown schools “pretty good, better than most,” Superintendent Janet Robinson told The Bee this week that a highly detailed report from a former police official provides constructive information and highly valuable “fresh eyes” regarding district security practices.

The report was provided along with temporary consulting services from Newtown native Maureen Will, who was hired to oversee the town’s emergency communications department effective July 1. According to Dr Robinson, Ms Will, who recently retired as a captain from the Brookfield Police Department, was brought on to help and advise school officials during the final few weeks of the school year.

The district is currently seeking a new security director. Richard Novia, who held the position for 15 years, was put on administrative leave earlier this year following a disciplinary action. His contract with the school district lapsed June 30. (A copy of a police report provided to the newspaper details allegations that Mr Novia pushed a student into a chair after the student refused to sit for questioning by the former security director and a school resource officer March 12.)

The 30-page report from Ms Will meticulously deconstructs aspects of security procedures, personnel practices, and logistics, along with providing a thorough inventory of security hardware, technology, and suggestions for improvements. While the report indicates some observations and suggestions to be applied districtwide, it pays particular attention to the high school.

Dr Robinson said she gave Ms Will free reign over the three weeks of her tenure to supply the best self-assessment possible.

“I wanted her to tell me everything,” Dr Robinson said, adding that the final report gives administrators a “good idea of what’s working and what’s not.”

Moving forward, the superintendent admitted that some of the suggestions will require additional funding, while many security improvements can be easily addressed with little or no added budgetary demands.

Dr Robinson said she will work with administrators over the summer and into the next school year setting priorities based on the report. She said that a top priority will involve enhancing existing video monitoring at the high school, with possible new camera locations and enhanced viewing hardware for security personnel.

The superintendent said she will work with local police officials to apply for grants to underwrite security equipment upgrades to minimize impact on the district budget. With no supplemental funding, Dr Robinson said a full upgrade of the monitoring system could take three to four years to complete.

“We’ve got a lot of research to do for these grants,” Dr Robinson said.

One of the higher cost proposals involves adding an additional full-time security officer. Dr Robinson said that adding that personnel will cost the district less than $50,000 with salary and benefits included.

She said based on the report, the district should reassess responsibilities of a security director, and that the major bulk of that official’s work will likely occur at the high school and middle school facilities. Dr Robinson said district security practices at the elementary school level provide a “nice balance” of protecting the students and staff while maintaining a “welcoming atmosphere.”

Dr Robinson dismissed the suggestion that increasing security measures at the middle and high school might give students and visitors an impression of a prisonlike atmosphere. She said the buildings were constructed at a time when many doors and entry points were common in the design of school buildings.

But she acknowledged that times have changed.

“Every parent has experienced the change in society. Some parents want to track their children with electronic devices,” Dr Robinson said. “We believe kids should feel safe, we take this very seriously.”

The superintendent said that many of the changes suggested in Ms Will’s report would have been done through the normal course of facility studies and upgrades, but said that she welcomes a fresh set of eyes to help the district be as good as it can be providing a secure school atmosphere for everyone. Assistant Principal Scott Clayton, who is currently in charge of overseeing security officers, said there were many statements in the report that could have been addressed by the administration.

“The document that was prepared by Ms Will has some great recommendations,” said Mr Clayton, who has been at the high school for three years. He added that he is using some of them to write a new procedures policy now.

The Board of Education was given copies of the report from Dr Robinson, and all of the members replying to a request for comments said they are impressed by how the situation is being handled.

“I think what we have to do is to get through this year,” said Board of Education Chair Elaine McClure.

The school board chairman said she has reason to believe that Dr Robinson will take care of all the security situations at the high school.

Board member Lillian Bittman also said she was glad the superintendent had the initiative to generate the study. And board member David Nanavaty said there are some things that need to be kept in mind when reading the report.

“One is that this is a high school,” he said. “The job of a high school is to educate the kids. It’s a high school and not a prison. Security is naturally important, but we are dealing with kids.”

He said with someone coming in with a police background has a different perspective than someone who is used to high school security.

Board member Anna Wiedemann said by e-mail, that she was initially appalled by the report, and how lax things have been at the high school.

“I was very pleased to learn that the high school is already meeting to address a lot of the issues and concerns raised by Maureen Will,” she said.

Loraine Santore, another board member, said she does not know of any business or home that does not have security issues.

“I think [Dr Robinson] is doing a good job,” she said, “and I think she is doing the right thing.”

A copy of the report, with segments redacted by Dr Robinson, was obtained by The Bee. The second part of this report, with further details of the security consultant report, will appear in the next edition of The Newtown Bee.