TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—At least two members from the Westwood Regional School District board said May 26 that they would work together to help draft a letter about the need for gun reforms and increased funding for school security, in the aftermath of the elementary school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 youngsters and two teachers.
WWRSD includes six schools, a regional high school, regional middle school and two elementary schools in Westwood and Washington Township.
Board President Frank Romano III said if a draft letter is written to request additional funds, trustees could discuss such an effort at the next meeting and either move on the initiative or refer the letter to committee for further research and refinement.
In addition, after urging from several residents referencing the Uvalde massacre, the board will likely soon take up whether to add at least two additional SLEO III police officers — who are recently retired officers — so that all six district schools will be covered by a full-time SLEO III.
Several residents raised the need for the two additional SLEO IIIs, which would provide an armed officer at each school, especially in the wake of Uvalde.
The two new officers combined would cost approximately $100,000 to $110,000 in the 2022-2023 budget. Currently, the 2022 budget includes funding for four SLEO IIIs: one at the high school, one in middle school, and two more officers, one for each of the two towns to cover two elementary schools in Westwood and two in Township of Washington.
After the superintendent recommended three officers, the board then approved the 2022-2023 budget with three SLEO IIIs earlier this year, and then voted again to add a fourth officer for 2022-2023.
Trustee Michelle Sembler said she would be happy to draft a letter regarding the district’s desires for gun reform and funding needed for extra school security following Uvalde. Sembler said she would email trustees looking for feedback on what to include in the letter.
Sembler said she supported more Class III officers in schools, “not necessarily to stop an AR-15 because nobody can do that” but to provide security and help prevent incidents by getting clues to what other students may be thinking or doing. She said the officers can develop trust and relationships with students that provides a proactive approach to security.
She said it was important for staff, students and security to keep “our eyes open and our ears open (and) if you see something say something.”
Trustee Roberta Hanlon said she could help Sembler with such a letter, noting the letter requesting school security funding might also be sent to the state school boards association to solicit the support of other school districts statewide for such an effort.
“We need help with finances for school security. Is there a way to get the two more Class III officers,” Sembler asked.
Former trustee Tommy Snee requested that 1,100 parents join with him in donating $100 toward funding the salaries of two extra SLEO IIIs, although officials said they were not sure that type of fundraising effort was appropriate or legal for a district-hired employee.
In addition to funding for enhanced school security and more SLEO IIIs, other trustees focused on making available more innovative mental health outreach and services to reach troubled students.
Trustee Kristin Pedersen said incidents such as the Uvalde massacre “are truly heartbreaking” and said she agreed that more mental health services should be available for kids before something bad happens. She urged trustees to “spend some more time here to figure out what can be done.”
Member Andrea Peck noted that often trustees vote on imposing violations for (HIB) harassment, intimidation and bullying to the same individuals and urged more “outside the box thinking” on how to reach such individuals to stop the HIB cycle.
“We need to provide for them. We have to be a bigger voice for our children who are struggling and who are hurting,” Peck said.
Trustee Maureen Colombo said the district might lean on its CarePlus partnership to help facilitate conversations with individuals dealing with emotional and mental difficulties.
She said by reaching out to individuals in distress, the district may be able to prevent a tragedy and help keep students safe.
Trustee Stacey Price said mental health programs that involve both the child and parent could be beneficial “where the parent and child could be working together more.”
She said this would allow the parents “to be more present” with their children.
Resident Doug Sloan said he favored “armed security” in place at every district school, noting that it “was not worth the risk” to go without armed guards at each school. He said taxpayers were “more than willing to pay the cost” for armed security at every school.
Resident Irene Fenargian pointed out that some security vulnerabilities existed during Covid, noting that windows were kept open to enhance air circulation, and often schools were accessible via a playground or driveway. She said having two more officers at elementary schools so all schools were covered was “a simple ask that can be done.”
Resident Eleneth Reyes said she felt the district needed better communication and transparency with parents.