Panelists Address Safety Themes at Community Forum
The district hosted a Safety Forum on June 13 to share information on a range of topics, including, but not limited to, how the upcoming capital project will improve security at the district’s five school buildings and plans to hire a School Resource Officer (SRO) and additional security personnel.
Topics were based on emails solicited from the school community, which were organized into major themes. Additional subjects included the district’s safety consultants, Altaris Consulting; the district’s activities related to training and preparedness; communication; safety during outside/after school activities; and plans moving forward.
“We are perpetually saddened by the rash of recent school shootings across the country,” said Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter. “This forum was about sharing our safety practices and our ongoing commitment to school security with our district families.”
The forum was facilitated by Hochreiter, and panelists included Security Director John Anderson, Westchester County Police Sergeant and SRO Program Coordinator Amery Bernhardt, Hendrick Hudson High School Principal James Mackin, Director of School Facilities and Safety Coordinator Anthony Merlini, and John LaPlaca and Cliff Gabrielsen of Altaris Consulting. Altaris is the district’s safety consultant.
“These are critically important conversations for our school community to have, and we will continue to engage with our parents on safety planning efforts throughout the summer and as we open the 2018-19 school year,” said Hochreiter, noting that additional safety discussions will be held at each of the district’s school buildings in the fall.
For those who could not attend, a video of the event is available on the district website at the following link: Safety Forum 6.13.18 VIDEO
Click here for the district’s Safety Plan and School Emergency Parent Guide: Safety Plan and Emergency Guide for Parents