Reviewing school security

Current events prompt a look at Township school safety

By: Bill Greenwood
   Recent school violence throughout the nation has caused the South Brunswick school board to look at its own safety measures.
   George Scott, director of student services, spoke Monday at a board of education meeting about the various safety policies the district has in place. He was asked to speak by Superintendent Gary McCartney, who said the district must learn from the recent school shootings in Colorado, Wisconsin and Lancaster County, Pa., and convince all employees of the importance of safety.
   "We live in a very dangerous world," Dr. McCartney said. "Whether we like it or not, we need to recognize how dangerous and fragile our existence is."
   Mr. Scott said a new visitor policy has been implemented in all of the district’s schools. Now, each school has a secure perimeter, meaning every door to the school is locked, and visitors must be buzzed in. If an individual does not have an ID card, he or she must register at the front desk and receive a visitor’s badge.
   Previously, the doors were open throughout the day.
   "If you’re a mom or dad, or a visitor out there, I don’t want you to be discouraged, and I don’t want you to be offended, and I don’t want you to be insulted if we deny you access to the school because we’re prepared to do that if it needs to happen," Mr. Scott said.
   The district is also part of the Community Resource Team, which meets monthly and includes representatives from the police department, township government and area clergy, Mr. Scott said.
   "The purpose of that group is to take a look at the trends in South Brunswick Township and to respond accordingly in order that the entire community is working in a direction to keep South Brunswick safe and healthy toward families," he said.
   The district also holds monthly meetings of the Safe and Caring Schools Committee, according to Mr. Scott. The committee features representatives from every school in the district and discusses school safety issues in an effort to make initiatives as uniform as possible.
   "What we’re doing is we’re making a concerted effort to bring continuity and consistency among the schools so that the practices are the same no matter what school you get in," he said.
   Mr. Scott said each school building has a crisis team that works with the principal on matters related to school safety. The district also has a character education program, which attempts to teach young people how to make good decisions when interacting with others, he said.
   In addition, Mr. Scott said patrol officers on the street will be coming into the school buildings this year in order to become more familiar with the building principals. He said this initiative will create a partnership between the schools and police that will allow a faster response should a problem occur.
   The district also has partnered with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey as well as the County Traumatic Loss Coalition to offer counseling and mental-health services to students, Mr. Scott said.