The Ellwood City School Board agreed to examine forming a safety committee following visitor concerns during its agenda meeting on Monday.
In the wake of last month’s Florida school shooting, several Ellwood school district residents bonded together to address safety issues with the board. Chief among concerns were improving internal security, entrance to the school buildings as well as individual classrooms, and reducing bullying. Visitors also requested the district to implement a safety committee, as Riverside School District has done.
Visitor Bob Cunningham urged school uniforms to combat passive bullying toward underprivileged students. “Everybody wears a uniform when they go to work,” Cunningham said.
Other visitors suggested improved entrance security, such as swiping ID cards and installing metal detectors.
Board President Mike Neupauer, who had recently discussed the topic with Superintendent Joe Mancini, agreed to work with the administration, police department and fire department to form a “foundation to move forward.”
“One of our challenges is that we have four buildings,” Neupauer said. Although Lincoln High School and Hartman Intermediate are close to the police station, Perry Lower Intermediate is outside of the Ellwood City Borough’s jurisdiction.
Board member Barb Wilson said she has experience through her position as a director of a regional Jewish center. According to Wilson, there were over 100 threats against the center in the past year, and the organization responded by hiring a former FBI agent to improve security.
Wilson said there are several possible options, some expensive and some low costs, and brought up the possibility of pursuing grants.
Board member LeRoy Cortez mentioned two previous actions. Eight years ago, the administration offices were moved to the front of the school to improve visitor entrance protocols.
Four years ago, the district hired a security firm to make recommendations on Lincoln High School. Cortez said part of the firm’s recommendation was to keep some of the security changes secret from the general public.
Cortez also indicated there were limits to what the district can do while remaining a productive learning environment. “Remember, we’re an educational facility, not a fort,” Cortez said.
Board member Renee Pitrelli asked about altering attendance phone calls. After school, the district sends an automated call to parents when students are absent, tardy or leave early. Pitrelli proposed changing the call to the morning to inform parents if their child has arrived.
Mancini added that such a change would require two calls, one morning and one afternoon, so parents are aware if their child leaves early.
The meeting ending with the board agreeing to move forward on a safety committee, and Pitrelli suggesting Wilson as one of two potential board members to serve.
yesterday a bus driver was driving and talking on her phone
this is unacceptable
Four buildings is a terrible excuse for lack of safety and shame on the board president for even saying such rubbish. There have been times when one of my children forgot homework, as I am starting my irresponsible speech, they cut me off and tell me they just need a ride to the high school, the back door is unlocked. Unlocked?! We drove over and sure enough.. Right in, right out and not a soul in site. I called the school because I thought this had to be an oversight. Sadly it was not. Speaking to other parents about this, it appears I am one of very few that did not know that door is ALWAYS left unlocked. Meaning.. In this day of school shootings, there is a door into the high school, which btw i’m sure is a fire escape as its in the stairwell. Giving total access to every floor in the school. EVERY FLOOR! Administration is on the opposite side of the building. There would be NO ONE there to stop an intruder, nor would they even know someone entered. DOES THAT NOT TERRIFY ANYONE ELSE? We need a school board that puts our children before excuses such as “there are four buildings” We know the size of the district, even just one small measure of security is better than throwing your hands in the air and crying “there are four buildings” You may as well be saying lets just hope it never happens.