Questions Still Surround Theft Policy at High School

Following break-ins from a Arlington High School  two weeks ago, parents have continued to express concerns over the documentation process that is followed after a theft on school property and how the administration is going to tighten security.

“I commend the administration’s plans (to increase security) but don’t feel like there is a documented process at school for these situations or a security plan in place,” concerned parent John Jacey told the on Thursday night.

The school has already begun for certain doors to reduce thefts on campus. Once a third door has been fitted with the new card system, all of the exterior locks to the school will be changed, Principal Mary Villano said.

The hours of videotape from the ’s external cameras have been thoroughly reviewed and everyone on those tapes has already been questioned, the principal said. There has been some dialogue about adding on campus, but the specifics of those details were discussed during a closed executive session during Thursday night’s meeting.

The uproar over the locker room situation began when, after playing an away game against division rival Woburn High School, the Spy Ponders football team returned to the school to find that some of the , and money and iPods had been stolen.

In addition to the recent break-in, some parents expressed their concerns in the overall conditions of the facilities themselves.

“If you go in there you’ll see inadequate ventilation, exposed wiring, mold and missing doors," Jayce said. I don’t think it would pass inspection right now."

While the issue of renovating the locker rooms is something the School Committee has recognized as an issue that needs to be addressed, was prioritized higher.

“The locker rooms are in the capital plan, but that is four or five years out," said Diane Johnson, the district's chief financial officer. "We want to finish the surface on the field first, it only lasts five to 10 years,” 

Johnson noted that three weeks ago, the district would not have thought security was such a screeching need to be addressed, and the field is something that many different groups use and depend on. The field also generates revenue for the school through athletic ticket sales, she said.