South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education members and district staff recently sought to address concerns around security after incidents last June related to weapons in schools.
Regarding the weapons incidents (a student brought a loaded handgun to MMS on June 3 and a 10th grader brought an air soft gun and kitchen knife to CHS on June 4), Board members assured the public that follow-up and action was ongoing following the June 8 Town Hall meeting on the incidents.
At the August 24 Board of Education meeting, Board member Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad addressed security during her report from the Finance, Facilities & Technology Committee. Lawson-Muhammad said that the committee was tackling “several items around security measurements and reporting.” She said that the committee “put together a list” after June 8 meeting and that list would be reviewed shortly by new Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Ramos.
Lawson-Muhammad also reported that the committee had been meeting with the town leaders and was following up on the topic of school resource officers (both South Orange and Maplewood have applied for COPS funding for such officers).
“We will make the decision about bringing the officers in as a board, but just so the community is aware, there are discussions and we are looking at that as an option.” Lawson-Muhammad stressed that no decision would be made regarding the placement of police officers in the schools without “full disclosure and input” from the community.
Meanwhile, Board member Johanna Wright reported that a FAQ on School Safety document — explaining the district’s discipline policy, student support and the emergency code system — had been put on the district website “so that parents are a little bit more aware.”
See the Safety & Security FAQs here:
