West Hartford's School Safety Report, What You Should Know

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Keeping schoolchildren safe these days is a complex web of technology, facilities improvements and relationship building.

While the goal is simple, school officials recently told the West Hartford Board of Education, the means to achieve it is not and its quest never ceases.

According to West Hartford Interim Superintendent of Schools Andrew Morrow, school security is a two-pronged approach where the school system works with the West Hartford Police Department.

"It really focuses on a partnership that focuses on a hard approach to security, but also a soft approach to security," Morrow told school board members Sept. 20.

"Hard" security, he said, are physical building adjustments, better locks on doors, stricter entrance procedures, etc.

"Soft" measures, according to Morrow, consist of assessing threats, working with students who may be troubled, counseling options and processing reports of threats.

The latter focus, Morrow said, is just as vital as the physical hardware utilized to keep schools safe.

"We know that's where the game is, as that's where true safety lies," Morrow said.

Several generations removed from fires and civil emergencies representing the bulk of threats facing schools, the current generation has lived with more local-specific concerns against schools, namely threats targeting a specific site.

From Colorado's Columbine High School in 1999 to Sandy Hook, Conn., in 2012 to Uvalde, Texas, just this past spring, school districts nationally are facing challenges unmatched by prior generations.

On Sept. 20, the West Hartford school board hosted school and police officials for an in-depth presentation on school system security.

What was unveiled included:

• A new pilot security system at Conard High School aimed at efficiently allowing for lockdowns to happen quicker and for school and police to communicate faster.

Under this system, according to West Hartford School Security Chief Eric Dency, a button can be pressed and a school building and police department can immediately be in contact with one another.

The system utilizes audio and visual components, exemplified by strobe lights flashing so a student or staff member, perhaps utilizing head phones, can be alerted something is happening, Dency said.

"We've tested it several times over the summer and it worked great," he told board members.

Should this system work well this year, it would be implemented in all other West Hartford schools, including Hall High School.

• New doors and windows were installed to better fend off intruders and, at Norfeldt School, what is called a "man trap" was installed.

This is a waiting area between the main entrance and the main office. There, a visitor can be identified by staff and let in if approved. Added security cameras were also installed at Norfeldt.

• Mental health support was increased with the hiring of new counselor positions at the schools and creation of "Social and Emotional Learning," where pupils learn about positive self-image, self-control and conflict resolution.

• Anonymous alert systems, where pupils can alert school staff in real time via computer or mobile phone if they see a "dangerous situation."

West Hartford Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Administration Anne McKernan said school security is a constant quest for educators these days.

"With every aspect of the school district, we are always questioning what else we could be doing," she said. "The work is never done."

For Dency, that means daily communication with the West Hartford Police Department, with discussions usually centering on online issues, dangerous social media trends and other concerns in the digital media.

"I communicate almost daily with my liaison at the police department," Dency said.

According to West Hartford Assistant Police Chief Robert Riccobon, who spoke to the board last week, relationships are vital to school security and they should include the schools, pupils, police and parents.

"The safety of every child in this town is paramount to what we do," Riccobon said. "When parents drop their children off to school, we want to make sure they feel safe."

To watch the full Sept. 20 West Hartford Board of Education meeting, click on this link.

For the full West Hartford School System safety report, click on this link.