Vernon School Officials Secure in Their Emergency Planning

Vernon education officials have unveiled a detailed security plan for the local public schools in the wake of the Newtown shootings.

You will not see armed guards. You will not see school buildings become forts, education officials said.

But what has emerged is a multi-tiered "risk management" system that takes on a practical approach, Director of Business and Finance Michael Purcaro said.

Purcaro is also the town's emergency management director.

"It's a comprehensive risk management approach based on best practices and lessons-learned as well as strong collaborative and working relationships with our local police and fire departments, Board of Education, town administration, and school health and safety committee, which includes representation from staff, students, parents, and vendors - specifically our bus company," Purcaro said.

Purcaro, Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway and other school system officials have developed a 10-point strategy for security.

Here is a summary:

 1. Create a "culture of respect" and communication philosophy - all addressed through policies, procedures, programs and training.

The training is ongoing and involves staff, students and administration, Purcaro said, and it's about "the timely and accurate sharing of information."

It also takes the popular public service announcement slogan "if you see something, say something" to heart. 

"We want everyone to know that if you see something that just isn't right, do not hesitate to contact someone in authority," Purcaro said. "If we do this, then this plays a big part in preventing internal incidents."

2. Vulnerability assessments. A police officer trained in Homeland Security matters is currently conducting a school-by-school security tour in an effort to survey each building and then recommend safety measures that need to be taken. 

Northeast School is done, but the details will be released only when something is implemented because the report is "law-enforcement" sensitive,  Purcaro said.

3. Secure entryways. Northeast School, Skinner Road School and Rockville High School are of particular concern because they lack "airlock" vestibules, thus providing direct access to the interior of the buildings, Purcaro said.

Work to the schools is included in the capital plan, but no funding mechanisms are in place. Purcaro said grants would be applied for to pay for the work. The estimated cost is $100,000 for each of the three schools, Purcaro said.

4. Expanding the new radio system by adding 50 more radios. Everyone in the school system can now communicate with everyone and the police and fire departments are on the frequency.

In addition the school system has a frequency dedicated to responders during an emergency, Purcaro said.  

The system is not designed to replace 911, but to “keep communications simple under stress,” Purcaro said.

5.  Electronic keyless entry and access control. Three key systems are currently in use throughout the district - traditional keys, IntelliKeys  and HID key-card access. Currently, they are being used in some schools and   have been issued to police officers. The school system is moving toward using them as ID cards and keys.

They are $4 as opposed to $75 for the IntelliKeys.

6. Panic Buttons. It's just a concept right now, but emergency management and school system officials are exploring not only the possibility of putting a traditional hard-wired panic button system in the main office at each school, but also a system that can go on every computer keyboard in every classroom.

For example, if a teacher encounters an emergency situation, he or she could depress two keys at the same time to immediately notify authorities.

7. Safety training. It would include students, staff and the bus company.
Purcaro said he is currently working with the police and fire departments to plan for large-scale emergency simulation over the summer that would involve one school.

"Any time we can collaborate with the police and fire departments, it will help us toward a real-world event," Purcaro said.

8. Knox Boxes. They are being installed inside schools over the next few weeks, Purcaro said. They will contain every necessary key and a floor plan  for the building, so when first responders arrive during an emergency, they can quickly formulate a response plan.  

9. The expansion of the security camera system. Purcaro said the systems at  Rockville High School and Vernon Center Middle School are "very robust," but the elementary schools have "basic" camera systems or none.

Purcaro said the ultimate goal would be to have a system that can transfer a wireless signal to a tablet so it can be handed to the scene commander during an incident, Purcaro said.

10. The standardization of ID cards. Each school is responsible for making its own, so the habit has been top contract the yearbook photography studio to make them.

Olivia Whitehead, an RHS representative to the Boards of Education, posed the idea and Ourcaro said uniform ID cards are now a priority.

So how is it all potentially paid for?  

Purcaro said grants will be pursued for the major vestibule renovations.

But for items like the panic buttons that are being installed right away, accounts not associated with the general fund - like the school use account - are being utilized, Purcaro said.

He said about $30,000 comes in each year from building use fees. The money is generally used to offset custodial overtime, but there are no restrictions on purchasing items for security purposes.

"This is our pan. This is our strategy," Purcaro said. "This is the approach we're taking, but it leaves us enough flexibility to adjust as we learn more lessons."