Schools react to shooting

Officials are reviewing and assessing security procedures following the tragedy in Newtown, Conn.

REGION — In the wake of last week’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn., that claimed the lives six adults and 20 children, local officials are treading a line between reassessing their own security measures while maintaining an air of normalcy for students.

Superintendents in South Portland and Scarborough issued letters to parents on Friday while the massacre was still playing out on television, advising of the availability of counselors. Cape Elizabeth Superintendent Meredith Nadeau did the same on Monday, noting an increase in police patrols this week around the town’s three schools. Nadeau also said the district will soon address a proposal to bring security doors to the three Cape schools.

Also on Monday, Maine’s Department of Education issued a “priority notice” advising of the creation of a Sandy Hook web page with links to resources for schools, parents and families. It also reminded school boards that, by law, they must review and approve a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan every year.

Locally, only Cape Elizabeth currently meets that requirement. South Portland school directors last put their stamp to an emergency for “about two years ago,” according to Superintendent Suzanne Godin. Scarborough has not done so since 2008.

Nadeau said Monday that her school board last approved its emergency plan in June. As part of that procedure, schools in Cape Elizabeth practiced a “lockdown drill” last month in cooperation with town police and fire officials.

“I believe that the preparedness of the staff at Sandy Hook elementary school prevented the loss of additional lives,” wrote Nadeau in her letter to parents. “As we move forward locally, we will continue to practice drills of this kind so that both staff and students know what to do in the event of any emergency that might occur in our schools.

“Our district emergency management team will be having its regular monthly meeting this week, as well, to discuss any additional response needs,” wrote Nadeau.

On Monday, Nadeau said a school board meeting as early as January could see an agenda item dealing with security doors at all three schools. Those doors, which could run “into six figures” Nadeau said, would prevent anyone from entering the school until “rung in” by front office staff.

Those style doors also are in place at South Portland’s two middle schools, although the elementary schools, Godin said, “were designed before all of these things started occurring.”

Since the 1999 shootings in Columbine, Colo., all school doors have been kept locked except the main entrance.

“That channels people by the main office, where everyone is supposed to check in,” said Godin. “So, this is one of those times to reiterate and remember those protocols and make sure we’re following them.

“We ask that all parents, everybody, even I as the superintendent, stop at the office and sign in,” said Godin. “I believe that having those strong protocols in place build that sense of safety while still allowing community members to be part of our building.”

Although the school board has not voted on an emergency plan in more than a year, the procedures are reviewed annually by the school department “at the building and district level” and by Police Chief Ed Googins, said Godin, adding that all staff members are being reintroduced to the plan this week.

“We’re all ‘heightened’ at this point,” said Godin, “For me, the problem is, how do you keep that vigilance after this week?”

Meanwhile, although counselors have been made available, and school staff greeted each child as students arrived on Monday, there will be no overt measures taken to walk students through a grieving process.

“Out motto is that consistency and continuity are the best responses,” said Godin. “Basically, kids want to know that everything is going to be well. By following our normal routine, but having those resources, where needed, we are sending students the message that you’re safe here, we’ve got work to do and we’re here if you need us.”

In Scarborough, Superintendent George Entwistle sent word through his administrative assistant that he would not be available for an interview by deadline, referring questions to his message to parents, posted online. His assistant, Debbie Rideout, said Monday that the Scarborough school board last approved the emergency plan there in April 2008.

In that letter, Entwistle wrote, “While we are confident in our current school safety [and] security systems and protocols, I have asked the leadership teams in each school to reassess current plans and practices for the purpose of improving and/or strengthening safety and security throughout our school community.”