By Jeff Lipton
Many of the school buildings were visited by the Herald unannounced on Sept. 18 and 19, to test security measures that are in place. The informal survey found that security has been upgraded overall during the past few years, but some breakdowns were found.
During the visit to five Lawrence district schools and four Hewlett-Woodmere schools, only once was ID requested.
The schools that received a needs improvement by the Herald included Lawrence Middle School and Hewlett High School.
At Lawrence Middle School, where district offices are located, the gym doors leading to one of the parking lots were left wide open with no supervisory personnel in sight. Girls could be seen in the background sitting on the gym bleachers. In addition, the entrance used by the maintenance department was left wide open.
A Herald reporter used a side door to the middle school and was immediately buzzed in. Schools in Lawrence are equipped with buzz-in systems that have a camera which is monitored by main office personnel.
Once inside, the reporter roamed the halls for several minutes, with no one questioning the purpose for the visit. The reporter then headed for the main office, again passing staff members without a word.
Dr. Mark Rosenbaum, superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools, said, I would be concerned when someone enters a building and walks around for more than a minute. Visitors, he added, are directed by signs to go to the main office, where they are supposed to receive a visitor's pass and then be directed to their destination.
In addition, he said no door should routinely be left open.
Lapses at Hewlett H.S.
At Hewlett High School, doors to the pool facility leading to the parking lot were left wide open. The facility leads to gym doors, which were also left open. One or two people were stationed at a desk near the parking lot entrance, asking visitors to sign in and directing them where to go in this case the main office, a great distance from the sign-in desk.
But no questions were asked about why the visitor was there until the visitor reached the main office, two long hallways away. Once again, the reporter was permitted to roam the halls.
Several minutes into the visit at Hewlett H.S. the reporter's ID was requested by an assistant principal.
Dr. Charles Fowler, superintendent of the Hewlett-Woodmere School District, said Hewlett H.S. has 70 exits, presenting a challenge to administrators to keep it secure. We have an open campus where kids are coming and going all the time, Fowler said. If doors don't get locked, it's pretty easy to get to the facilities.
Other schools passed the test
Otherwise, security ranged from adequate to excellent, as all side doors leading to the elementary schools in both districts, such as at the Franklin Early Childhood Center and Hewlett Elementary School in Hewlett-Woodmere and the Number One, Number Four and Number Six schools in the Lawrence District were securely locked. But in Lawrence schools the reporter was again buzzed in without any questions asked and permitted to roam the halls. However, at the Number One School, the reporter was stopped twice by staff, questioning the purpose for the visit.
The Woodmere Middle School and Lawrence High School, which has a guard stationed at the front gate, also received passing grades.
Rosenbaum said he doesn't want his schools converted into military zones, adding that he wants a comfortable and nurturing environment for learning but in a secure setting.
With all the acts of the last couple of years, we can no longer be confident these facilities are safe and secure at all times, Rosenbaum said.
Rosenbaum said he believes the Lawrence schools are secure, but district officials are always looking to upgrade security. He said discussion has begun about providing all staff members with picture IDs. We say to people if they have a question [about a visitor], to feel free to ask for ID, he said.
Fowler said a districtwide safety committee has been discussing various security upgrades for Hewlett-Woodmere. One suggestion is for visitors to leave ID or a driver's license at the sign-in desk. These people go into the building, but we often don't know whether or not they have left the building. We are looking to shore-up procedures.
In addition, the schools are in the process of installing cameras for the interior and exterior of buildings. The exterior cameras will prevent vandalism to buildings, which the district has been experiencing. The cameras will be monitored from the district administration building at One Johnson Place in Woodmere. The cameras were approved as part of a June 2000 bond passed by voters.
We're always looking for ways to improve, Fowler said. Fortunately, we've not had a serious incident. We recognize where our problem areas are and will give them more attention.
Private schools apparently have taken security extremely seriously with most posting a guard outside the front doors. At Brandeis in Lawrence, for instance, a guard greeted the Herald at the door and escorted the reporter inside, staying with him until he met the person he came to see.
I think safety is the number one concern on everybody's mind, said Dr. David Sussman, a Lawrence school board member who was speaking on his own behalf and as a parent with children attending district schools.
Although he agreed that the district has vastly improved security, the district and the school board must re-examine security procedures.
We need to improve and this is an area where we should spend extra money, he added. That's one area where no one will complain about paying more taxes. No one could speak against increased security.
And I encourage parents to come forward when they see security lapses.
He said he could support security cameras encircling the perimeter of buildings to keep tabs on suspicious people lurking in parking lots, at a cost of about $50,000.
He applauded the Herald's work in uncovering apparent flaws in the system. The Herald is clearly doing a service to the students and parents by conducting an independent survey, Sussman added.
