Mansfield Superintendent Addresses Safety After School Break-Ins

MANSFIELD, MA — Superintendent Teresa Murphy announced that school security issues have been addressed, following the arrest of a man police said broke into Qualters Middle School and Mansfield High School to stalk a teacher he had previously dated. According to police, the break-ins happened on several occasions between March 29 and April 4 after school hours. Tu C. Le, 43, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was charged with stalking, four counts of breaking and entering, and trespassing.

Murphy told Patch Le identified a "vulnerability" in both buildings, and since then, both have been addressed.

"We will be even more vigilant during after-school hours at restricting access to sections of the building that are not in use and be diligent with door security," Murphy said. "Working with the Mansfield Police Department, all school security protocols are constantly being reviewed and revised."

Murphy reiterated that the school district was recently appropriated $328,000 to spend on school security upgrades, as a result of Mansfield's annual town meeting this past November.The money will be used to purchase visitor management software, an exterior electronic door entry system, additional security cameras, a public announcement system, and visitor vestibules. The district also applied for an $80,000 state grant from the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Murphy said.