Schools

Regional Schools' Safety Strategy Takes Step Forward

Private analysis, community committee, extra facilities monitor all approved by school board.

In a single meeting, the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education made three moves that could drastically alter its planning and strategy on school safety.

Before the board were three motions to be approved, including the commissioning of a private security analyst, the ability to form a community-based committee, and the ability to hire an additional facilities monitor that would be shared between both Mendham and Central high schools.

All three were approved, but not without heavy discussion and debate.

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The district – Mendham High School, specifically – recently reached a higher level of anxiety when social media users and students went abuzz about a potential threat to their school in October. The threats were deemed unfounded.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast held a community forum with about two-dozen residents – no board members attended – to brainstorm ideas and open communication about security measures in the district.

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Those occurrences, in addition to the state of heightened awareness surrounding school safety in the last year, led the board to act Monday night. Before the board moved to its agenda, Pendergrast explained his reasons for bringing the items forward.

Despite a security audit of both high schools being completed last April by the Morris County Prosecutors Office, no results have been returned.

“We need to have the ability to move forward on these security measures,” Pendergrast said. “We can’t wait on the prosecutors office any longer.”

Surveying Security

At the cost of $2,000, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Security Analyst and former New Jersey State Trooper Patrick Doyle of Mendham. Doyle will spend a total of four days between the two high schools surveying layouts, entry and exit points, and interviewing faculty and administration, Pendergrast said.

It is expected Doyle will have the report complete by Dec. 1, and will be retained for up to 10 hours of additional consultation at a fee of $500 total.

“Adding in those consulting hours helps us build an ongoing relationship with (Doyle),” Pendergrast said. “I feel we need expert advice to make the safets possible environment for our faculty and students.”

Pendergrast said Doyle reached out to him offering the services. The board voted 8-0 in favor of, with Mendham Borough representative Jacke Schram absent.

Extra Eyes Sees Approval

The second of the three items directly associated with enhanced security measures was the possible implementation of an additional facilities monitor to be shared between the schools.

Chester Township representative Marcia Asdal wasn’t keen on giving the go-ahead just yet, however.

“I think it’s premature to continue doing what we’ve done in the past without receiving the expert’s analysis,” Asdal said. “I think we should wait until the report comes back to make a decision.”

The facilities monitor item is somewhat open-ended, however. No hire is being made immediately, rather, an approval by the board would just allow the administration to go forward and make the decision if it deemed necessary.

No salary or other details have been set aside for the position yet, either.

The board approved the motion 5-3, with Asdal, Jamie Button, and Don Storms opposed. Asdal and Button voted the last two years against the pay rate of a part-time facilities monitor at West Morris Central High School.

Resident Leslie Mule of Washington Township asked the administration if a facilities monitor would be carrying a concealed weapon at any time. Under state law, that decision is at the discretion of the superintendent, Pendergrast said.

The superintendent would not state what decision may be made regarding a concealed weapon, deferring to the newly approved analysis by Doyle.

“It’s a bad idea,” Mule said about the carrying of a weapon. “It makes me unsettled as a parent. I can’t see any reason at all to have a weapon in the school.”

Contentious Conversation Over Community Committee

The last of the three items was the most heavily debated.

Pendergrast asked the board to decide on the creation of a District Security Advisory Committee comprised of board members, administrators, faculty, students and community members. 

Asdal charged that as an elected official alongside eight others, it was the board’s responsibility – not the community’s – to make decisions and disseminate the information to constituents.

“I don’t see the need for a committee,” Asdal said. “It’s not the community’s responsibility; it’s ours to disseminate input from the expert’s analysis.”

Button followed Asdal’s lead, expressing concern over the responsibility of the committee and its implications on the administration’s decisions.

“Why should we create a committee when it’s our responsibility to make the decision?” Button asked. “It’s not something that should be shunted off to some amorphous committee.”

Button went on to say the committee could become political, and end up being a “mouthpiece for the administration.”

Pendergrast countered, explaining his take on the dialogue he’s been involved in.

“The community has done an excellent job coming together and communicating,” he said. “This would be for community input – that’s it.”

The motion was approved 6-2, with Button and Asdal opposed.

“All three of these items put together, I think, will give us an opportunity to enhance our security with a set direction,” Pendergrast said.

Doyle will begin his analysis immediately with the approval. The board’s next meeting is set for Dec. 9 at Mendham High School with a scheduled start time of 7 p.m.


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