Is Worcester’s School Safety Being Compromised? City Officials Weigh in

Friday, May 15, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

On Wednesday afternoon, shots were fired following an altercation on Park View Drive behind Burncoat High School in Worcester. According to the Worcester Police Department, they are actively searching for three suspects involved in the shooting. Witnesses told WPD that the three suspects are not from the area and that the area the incident took place was a random act.

As GoLocalWorcester reported, this is the third incident involving a gun at or near the school in the past four weeks. On April 17, a gun and ammunition was found in a student’s locker at Burncoat. A week and a half later, on April 29, two men were arrested across the street from the school and WPD confiscated a loaded weapon from them.

These three incidents, as well as numerous arrests made at North High School, and additional student arrested on April 29 at Worcester Tech for pellet guns and knives have pushed school safety to the forefront of discussion in the city of Worcester.

"The recent events which have taken place in our schools, or in the general vicinity of the schools, clearly constitute a graphic warning sign to us, which we ignore, minimize or discount at our peril, and at the peril of our staff and students, said School Committee Brian O'Connell. "We must look closely at ALL security provisions in ALL schools, and determine whether we can, and should, do more to protect our staffs and our students. I fully support the security review which will advise us as to the options which are now available, and the areas in which our policies and protections are less than optimal."

The study is a security audit put in place by Superintendent Dr. Melinda Boone to look at security measures and procedures in Worcester high schools. The audit is still under review.

"I expect the study to recommend an extensive range of capital improvements - enhanced wireless communications, outdoor panic devices, projectile-resistant glass, secure classroom locksets - and we must be ready to address the substantial financial cost which they are likely to require," said O'Connell.

"Mayor (Joseph) Petty, Superintendent Boone and School Committee members, among others, have assured us that the Worcester Public School are safe. I pray that they are right," said City Councilor Gary Rosen.

City Council Denies Report on Metal Detectors in Schools

Last week, Worcester City Council voted against Councilor Morris Bergman’s request for information on costs of metal detectors and full-time WPD officers in Worcester’s high schools.

Bergman told GoLocalWorcester, “"I think it's worth noting years ago, when detectors were brought up, the were predominantly only found in places like prisons," said Bergman. "Now, you see them more and more and more -- airports, sports arenas. Young people aren't as traumatized by them, they're fairly commonplace."

"I'm not sure that locking schools down will prevent the issues that we have in the city with youth violence. To address the source of the issues, we would need to provide more positive alternatives for our youth. More access to organized sports, arts, internships and summer jobs," said School Committee Member Hilda Ramirez.

Rosen said, "Everyone in Worcester wants our city's public schools to be welcoming, healthy and safe educational institutions for our children. There simply are differences of opinion on how best to realize that end."

At last week’s council meeting, Bergman questioned the $500,000 for school safety measures in the city’s budget and whether or not it’s being used properly. Since then, City Manager Ed Augustus has proposed his FY2016 budget - with the school system getting $14 million more than last year.

“Much of our ongoing investments in education come in the form of commitments to build and improve educational facilities," Augustus said in his proposal to the City Council.

Other Options to Keep Students Safe

"We also have an important low-cost option available to us: a careful strengthening of school disciplinary procedures, and consistent but vigorous enforcement of school rules of conduct which help to protect the safety of students, while providing them a secure and comfortable environment which is conducive to study and to learning," O'Connell said.

"Would police, metal detectors, and cameras within the schools make our children safer? Many say yes while others say no," said Rosen. "Those discussions must continue and be ongoing while we continue to monitor the level of anger, frustration and discontent being shown by a small number of our students."

"We are doing everything possible to keep schools going as schools and at the same time being sure that all safety measures are in place - including cameras, teachers with walkie talkies, safety audits in place, etc. The one area that I have a concern is that the cell phones coming to school should be secure in the lockers and not on the students. That needs to be enforced," said School Committee Member John Monfredo. "In addition, we need to continue to work on creating a culture of "acts of kindness" and paying forward with our students. Our students need to be engaged in the importance of creating a safe environment and in caring about one another."

According to Ramirez, the City's Youth Violence Task Force is currently working on recommendations to present to the City Manager. Ramirez said, "We need to work harder to extend our school day for secondary schools. Students have too much time on their hands without supervision and productive activities."

"Nothing would have to be permanent, it could be using hand-held wands, or random checks, there's lots of things you can incorporate," said Bergman. "Ultimately though, elected officials need to hear the feedback from the community -- parents, teachers, students. It's a democratic process. If people are satisfied with how things are, things will remain the same. If not, we have to look at how to address it."