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Live reporting: Discussion only items

3. Discussion Only Items

School Safety Update 

Sally Winslow, Asst Superintendent
(Superintendent Sabolinski recovering from a broken ankle and while remote has been in regular contact)

actions of staff at Parmenter may have contributed to the incident
have been dealing with 'rumor' issues raised via social media
meeting held last Tuesday night with Parmenter parents

Q - can you state what did happen?
what occurred, someone came to the school, knocked to come in
buzzed in, was let in, but instead of checking in, proceeded down one of the corridors
intercepted by a teacher and custodian, secretary joined them
queried individual about his presence, he was asked to leave, he did
Central Office was called, Franklin Police was called 
photo shared and individual identified

Next day, a retired secretary was on site stationed by the door for check ins
school working on getting schedule of parent volunteers for check in, also looking for Senior Center volunteers

Notified other schools of incident, including photo of individual

Adding signage and consistent language around check in process at each school

Want to address 'tail gating', need to be checked in separately

Parmenter establishing a school wide committee for re-evaluation of school safety

School Dept will sit with the Police Dept to review the process, what worked, what could be improved

We did get questions on why we did not get into 'lock down'?
the individual did leave without threat, other schools were notified
concerned with physical and emotional safety for all the students
did confer with Police and Admin office before that decision was made

Met with vendor last Friday who had installed the security system for options and improvements

possible pilot program being explored for a software program for facial recognition

any renovations for the buildings would require Facilities which is part of the Town side of the budget

audience participating at the School Committee at Franklin High School

O'Malley - unfortunate, yes. I feel confident our schools are safe

Trahan - I felt I needed to review our policies, we did follow the policies and procedures. Steps are being taken to address where possible.

Q - what was the decision on not telling the parents of the other schools. I have been in frequently and while buzzed in, was not checked in but maybe once in all the time
A - Winslow - we felt it was a Parmenter issue. It became apparent after the Tuesday meeting that we needed to do more.
A - Mullen - we do have to say how lucky we were that nothing did happen. We are re-visiting the policy. we do need to look at how the schools work.

Q - I would respectfully disagree with the decision to not go with a town-wide lockdown. My kids are at Jefferson but the guy could have tried one, and could go elsewhere.
Winslow - we relied on input from the Police

Police Officer - We had an incident today for a couple of different reasons. I did not see it required that under the circumstances. If it was a breach, i.e. he had run through. He had been immediately addressed upon his entrance. The way it played out, there was not lock down called. Really not necessary.

I have the same amount of interest. I have a family member in every level of the school district. I understand where you are coming from but it was not required.

This guy is at a facility now. We have been busy but we want to get out to the older schools to see how we can harden the entrance. The newer schools have that entry where you can get in the first door but not the second.

Dave Nee - I understand that it was what it was. Sandy Hook took only 7 minutes. It may not have been a threat, ere on the side of caution.  I am a roofer, I go to different schools, the others have a better system than we do. I go to Parmenter and it is an honor system, I'll admit I don't always check in. there was a failure last Monday. I am glad to see solutions being put together. 

I think the town as a whole needs to embrace social media. There needs to be better communications.

Trahan - there needs to be some discussion on what is posted. I don't know why people don't get the connectED message. If they can't, they should and we need to figure that out. I got the messages today. I don't want that on Facebook so someone could know what was going on and endanger our children.

Nee - Don't discount it, embrace it. Control it and send it yourself

Mullen - there isn't any one person who could keep up with it. 

Winslow - the struggle we have is we need to get our info correct before sending out. Kids are tweeting out so kids at Tri-County are finding out before I can get to send out the right info

Selena Cousins - I would beg you as a parent to ere on the side of safety. Layers of security make it harder and harder to get into the building. While Parmenter is doing stuff, this needs to be a district wide effort. Not the most effective way to address the issue. I got the notice today and appreciated it. When you ask people to honestly sign in, you could check in later and find Mickey Mouse signed in. Do we test trying to get in? We should try that as part of the evaluation. I was a school principal for 8 years. if upsets someone in the short run, so be it. We should be partners in this. We can use social media to help.

Winslow - custodians do a sweep of the building after events, but it raises questions about the music and other evening events

Parent teacher at Tri-County - my students knew before I did and my phone did blow up with notifications. The younger kids had no idea of the administrative lockdown today. The admin lockdown should always be an option. That little bit of safety is worth it. It was a brilliant call today. There were some bad comments on Facebook. It finallly shut down with the good ConnectEd notifications. 

Q - how is a volunteer going to help if the person has a weapon?
A - the volunteers would be a work in progress to getting something better at the doorways

Peter Light - FHS incident

during the lunch block the Franklin Police received a call with a threat
Sgt Spillane was notified, based upon the nature of the threat we did not lockdown, we did evacuate, as the evacuation occured, the piolice and fire were arriving and secured the campus. Horace Mann/Oak St were notified and went it lockdown. The Asst Superintendent put the district into lockdown

Police needed to sweep the building, it was about 90 mins before dismissal but we expedited the busses to arrive early. Students who drove and had keys with them, were allowed to leave. After the State Police completed the sweep, faculty and then student were allowed back into the building for their belongings. We wanted to return to normalcy as soon as possible. We had evening events, performance, as well as this School Committee meeting.

Some things from the fall incident were incorporated into the ConnectED messages. Parents were told not to leave their vehicles when students were dismissed. Parent night will go into more detail Wednesday night.

Investigation is still underway. Students are updated via the faculty. it wil be short and brief Wednesday morning. 

Schools were dismissed at normal times, after school events went on as scheduled.

Parents who did attempt to get their students were turned away. During lockdown, no one is allowed to leave.

Feedback from the Police was positive about the reaction of the students and faculty. Holmes Bus company stepped up to work with us. Had busses on the scene within 10 minutes. Really outstanding response by them!

Custodians came into the school when it was safe. When you dismiss students from the cafeteria and library when they are eating lunch, it does leave a mess behind.

5 minute recess

One Simple Solution for Medication Safety (video)

New year, new year's resolutions, may be you do that. May be you don't.

Our individual health is important and this brief video has a good tip that everyone should follow.

Easy to do....




For more Dr Mike videos you can visit him on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/docmikeevans

or his webpage  http://www.evanshealthlab.com/

Tips to celebrating New Year's Eve safely

From the MA Gov blog we find tips on celebrating New Year's Eve safely:

From all-day festivals in Pioneer Valley to breathtaking firework displays on the Charles River, New Year’s Eve is an exciting and fun holiday in Massachusetts. Friends and family gather to mark the turning of the calendar in one of the most festive celebrations of the holiday season in the Commonwealth. 

While communities come together to kick-start 2015, it’s important to stay safe while celebrating. The Highway Safety Division (HSD) and the Department of Fire Services (DFS) of Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) provide tips and resources to make sure you and your family safely ring in 2015.

photo from MA Gov posting

Continue reading to find the safety tips
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/holidays/celebrate-new-years-eve-safely-in-massachusetts/


First Night Boston - http://www.firstnightboston.org/

Good reading from the MA.gov websites

A quick set of three recent postings on preparing for Thanksgiving travel, winter driving tips and preparing for winter overall.

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, meaning people across the country will gather together to celebrate with friends and relatives. While getting ready for your Thanksgiving festivities, it’s important to be mindful of safe practices when preparing your holiday meal and making travel plans. The Department of Public Health (DPH),Department of Fire Services (DFS), and the Department of Transportation (DOT) want to ensure that you have a fun and safe Thanksgiving. Taking a few minutes to read these tips can lead to a more enjoyable holiday.

Continue reading the article to find tips on traveling, food safety and more
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/holidays/thanksgiving-home-and-travel-safety/

screen grab of MA.gov webpage

• Given the news out of Buffalo, the article on snow preparedness is also a good read = http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/massachusetts-snowstorm-preparedness/

• And with the winter arriving soon, winter driving tips are a good thing to review  =  http://blog.mass.gov/blog/living-in-massachusetts/massachusetts-winter-driving-tips-and-safety/

September is "National Preparedness Month"

Power outages, hurricanes, floods, or snow storms – it’s important to plan ahead for emergencies. And because the Commonwealth designates September “National Preparedness Month,” there’s no better time to start than now. 

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) have partnered together to launch two public information programs to help residents be ready for emergencies and disasters.

Continue to read the full article on the MA.Gov blog here
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/september-is-national-preparedness-month

September is "National Preparedness Month"

Seven Safety Tips for the 4th of July

The Mass.Gov blog has a good posting with safety tips for the 4th of July celebrations:

In 1776, the first shots at Lexington and Concord were fired, marking the beginnings of the American Revolution. Today, Americans take time each year on July 4th to celebrate the birth of our nation and commemorate those who fought for our freedom. On this day of backyard barbecues, fireworks, and outdoor fun, remember to keep a few safety tips in mind: 

1. Leave Fireworks to the Professionals

Massachusetts law prohibits private citizens from using, selling, or possessing fireworks. Additionally, fireworks purchased legally elsewhere and then transported into the state are strictly prohibited. There are a variety of fireworks displays supervised by professionals to enjoy in Massachusetts instead. 

2. Keep Children Safe

Whether on the playground or at a campground, make sure children are supervised while celebrating outside during the holiday. Keep fireworks and sparklers out of reach of children at all times. Removepieces of small toys, balloons, , and other items that may be potential choking hazards or dangerous to small children.

Mass.GOV webpage

Continue reading the safety tips by following this link:

http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/seven-safety-tips-for-the-4th-of-july/

Safe Routes to School: Bicycle Poster Contest

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Safe Routes to School: Bicycle Poster Contest

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 2/26/13

MassDOT's Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program is providing the opportunity for 5th grade students across the Commonwealth to participate in a national Bikes Make Life Better poster contest.

The contest supports MassDOT and Safe Routes to School goals by encouraging students to recognize biking as an active and sustainable transportation option that benefits their physical health and community. Saris Cycling Group, a manufacturer of bicycle racks and cycling training products, hosts the contest annually.

Participating schools will submit entries to the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program by April 1.  A first place winner will be selected to represent the Commonwealth in the national contest and receive a new bike provided by Saris Cycling Group. Second and Third Place winners will receive gear to make their bike ride safer and fun. The Massachusetts first place winner will then compete for the national prize - a chance to attend the 2014 National Bike Summit in Washington DC and an exclusive bicycle parking and tracking system known as The Hub for their school!

Tips & Tools to Participate

• Every entry must be original artwork created by a student who is currently in the 5th grade at a Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Partner location. 
• Poster entries must be related to the contest theme: Bikes Make Life Better. The themed title must also appear on the poster. All words must be spelled correctly.
• Be sure to adhere to the contest's very specific rules for poster design and layout found on the Saris website.
• Invite your SRTS Outreach Coordinator to host a bike safety assembly for your school's 5th grade class. Students can then create posters based on what they learned about bicycling.
• Create buzz about the contest in your classroom by hanging up flyers to promote this exciting opportunity to your 5th grade students!
• A completed permission slip must accompany all entries to be considered for the three state prizes.

Contact Massachusetts Safe Routes to School for more information!

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

What is ALiCE?

The newspaper has an article on the current safety protocol "freeze" and a recent alternative called ALiCE which stands for "alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate."

Several members of the Franklin Police Department work in the schools, though not as full-time school resource officers. 

Franklin Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said two officers were able to attend the ALiCE training for free since it was hosted in town. 

However, she said ALiCE has not been implemented since protocol changes require "a lot of coordination’’ among the schools, emergency departments and surrounding towns that would likely be called in if a violent intruder entered a school. 

Police departments that have ALiCE trainers on staff include Framingham, Hudson, Franklin, Hopedale, Natick and Wellesley, according to Response Option’s website.

Read more: Schools explore new armed-intruder protocol - Franklin, MA - Wicked Local Franklin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x65619491/Schools-explore-new-armed-intruder-protocol#ixzz2FsQfzFEB

More about ALiCE can be found on the Response Options website
http://www.responseoptions.com/

"I think it's a matter of staying alert"

In the round up of areas schools on the first day back after the Newtown, CT tragedy, the Milford Daily News writes in part:

Franklin Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said district administrators worked through the weekend on safety procedures. 

"Our target was to return to business as usual," she said. "We did not have any memorials or school-wide announcements about it." 

The district, Sabolinski said, regularly re-evaluates safety. 

"We work very closely with the Police Department - we met just a month ago to review protocol and do lockdown drills," she said. 

Sabolinski said school doors are always locked, and the schools have cameras. 

"We did have an additional police presence," she said. "We have resource officers, and requested additional officers to reassure the parents."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1107423287/Schools-evaluate-safety-after-Connecticut-shooting#ixzz2FOnscwEu

Joint Statement on Franklin Schools opening Monday

To the Franklin Community,

In the midst of the overwhelming sadness brought on by the tragic incident in Newtown, CT public safety officials, school personnel and Town of Franklin officials are more committed than ever to the safety of all students, teachers, administrators, and support staff that occupy our schools and public facilities. All parents should feel secure and comfortable in the fact that the schools and public safety are vigilant in our pledge to prepare, train, and if necessary, carry out all functions necessary to counter any threat to the well- being of anyone associated with the schools in our community.

Each school has a comprehensive safety and emergency response plan that has been developed in collaboration with the Police Department, Fire Department, Facilities staff and the administration of the School Department. Our practice drills are monitored by the police and we continually refine our procedures based on the feedback we receive form our public safety officials. Our emergency plans are reviewed with all school personnel annually. In October, the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent met with Police officials to review our building based plans and to review current research on handling these violent situations. As part of our on- going collaboration we will review/revise our plans according to best practices. On November 15, the Franklin Police Department and the Office of the District Attorney sponsored a crisis drill at Franklin HS. Based on the training we are refining our procedures within the context of the most up to date research from national law enforcement leaders.

As school opens on Monday, each school leadership team developed a plan to address any issues that impact students as they arrive at school. We requested the police have a presence on each campus to assure students and parents that our commitment to a safe educational environment is a community priority. We encouraged our school administrators and teachers to engage in the typical day to day programs that have been scheduled and follow the normal routines. Using Open Circle, Middle School Advisory and our trained counseling professionals, we are able to support and meet the emotional needs of our children.

As we move forward we want to assure all parents and concerned residents of our combined dedication to providing an environment where all those at the schools feel protected and secure, where they know that school and public safety professionals are alert to possible threats, where they have confidence in public safety’s readiness for any incident that may threaten that security, and where there can be no doubt in our ability to engage in what we see as integral part of our duty to protect and serve. Please feel free to contact any or all of us if you have any questions or concerns.

Respectfully,

Jeff Nutting                                      Stephan Semerjian
Town Administrator                         Chief, Franklin Police Department

Gary McCarraher                            Maureen Sabolinski
Chief, Franklin Fire Department       Superintendent of Schools

FBI recommends check to prevent loss of Internet access on Monday

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

FBI recommends check to prevent loss of Internet access on Monday

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 7/5/12

Hundreds of thousands of Internet users may lose their online access on July 9, 2012, and Better Business Bureau is urging all consumers and businesses to run a quick and easy diagnostic test to see if their computers are infected.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Better Business Bureau warns of 'Amazon' scam

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Better Business Bureau warns of 'Amazon' scam

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 5/15/12

The Better Business Bureau has issued a warning about a new email phishing scam that looks like an order cancellation notice from Amazon.com.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to The Milford Daily News News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

There are several worthy resources to help with your online safety.

• The Better Business Bureau can be found online:  http://boston.bbb.org/
• The US Government has this site:  http://onguardonline.gov/
• Wired Safety has their site: http://www.wiredsafety.org/

If you have found a site worthy of sharing, please send me an email or leave a comment.

5 tips for staying safe on the web

A 2 minute video with good reminders to stay safe while using the Internet.





Thanks to Richard Byrne for pointing to this video