Several of our school districts are investing and implementing safety measures by keeping up to date with the latest available technologies.
However, since the start of the new school year, the Suffolk County Police Department has responded to approximately two-dozen school threats.
Last week, the SCPD also held an active shooter drill at the former Briarcliff Avenue Elementary School in Shoreham. The drill, according to the SCPD, is part of the department’s continuing effort to prepare for an active shooter or emergency.
During the drill, police officers and associated agencies took part in an eight-hour training, including tactical and medical care instruction.
Also last week, Pat-Med’s South Ocean Middle School underwent a bomb threat, which has also happened at William Floyd back in March.
“While patrol remains enhanced around schools, parents and students are reminded of the severity of these threats,” the SCPD said in a statement.
The department also utilizes SHARE and the RAVE panic button. However, the number of districts currently using them could not be provided as of print.
The RAVE panic button mobile app allows school officials or staff to push a button indicating the type of emergency the school building is experiencing. The app will then immediately dial 911 and send an instant notification with details of the emergency and all faculty and staff on site.
According to the SCPD, the app also allows the school to send updated and critical information via messages with police and will automatically include detailed caller locations, building floorplans, emergency exit locations, emergency contacts and procedures.
The SHARE program, or Sharing to Help Access Remote Entry, gives police officers access to the school security cameras from the Crime Analysis Center at Suffolk County Police Headquarters in Yaphank. This gives officers eyes-on information in an emergency in real time.
SCHOOL SHOOTING FACTS
Additionally, according to everytownresearch.org, in 2024 there were at least 139 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 42 deaths and 91 injuries nationally.
From 2013 through 2022, there were 720 incidents of gunfire on the grounds of a preschool or K–12 school, including incidents of gun homicides and assaults, gun suicides and attempts, unintentional shootings, and mass shootings.
Over 75 percent of those were from shooters under the age of 18 who got the gun from their home or the home of a close relative.
SOUTH COUNTRY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Superintendent of schools Antonio Santana said the South Country School District has invested “significantly” in security. Though, he said, the exact investment is difficult to calculate, as investments include not only the security staff and specific security-related technology, but also certain capital upgrades, staff trainings, cybersecurity investments and more.
However, the district has invested a total of $553,500 on an upgraded security camera system as well as $1,250,000 on an upgrade to a security door access system.
“We continue to evaluate our security protocols yearly to determine where upgrades are necessary and budget accordingly,” he said.
Santana said the district takes safety and security very seriously, as they investigate all threats thoroughly.
“When threats turn out to be not credible, as they often do, it’s a delicate balance to address them being false while also recognizing the fear and anxiety they provoke, as they remind us of the reality of violence against schools,” he said in a statement. “It’s important that we support one another, be kind, and not dismiss anyone’s concerns. While we can’t control internet hoaxes or those who stir fear, we can control how we treat and respond to one another.”
According to Santana, the district is “continuously improving” their security protocols and technology, and are actively working on upgrading their camera systems. The district also has access to the RAVE app to further enhance safety.
However, they do not currently participate in the SHARE program, though they are looking into it.
“Together, we can help address these issues in an impactful and thoughtful way —especially if we stand by each other,” he said.
PATCHOGUE-MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT
According to assistant superintendent for business and operation Frank Mazzie, the Patchogue-Medford School District was provided approximately $5.8 million as part of the American Rescue Plan grant, which was approved by the community for security and safety upgrades, most of which were recently completed and expended during this calendar year.
Recent safety and security improvements include new public address system, new door-locking mechanisms, new metal detectors/security wands, additional handheld radios, additional lockdown strobe lights (interior and exterior), additional property fencing, new security gates, new vape detectors, new lockdown shades, new window screens, new security vestibule transaction windows, additional security cameras, and new AEDs (automated external defibrillators).
As for the SCPD’s RAVE and SHARE programs, the Patchogue-Medford School District has utilized an emergency notification app since 2018. The first app that was utilized was Crisis Go. When the RAVE app became available, Mazzie said, they began utilizing that in or around 2020.
“All staff was trained on its usage and encouraged to sign up for it. We inform new hires in August about its usage and remind users periodically throughout the year about its capabilities,” he said.
Additionally, he said, the district is a participant in the Suffolk SHARE program and have verified with SCPD that their connection is active.
“These measures were implemented to enhance the safety of our students, staff, and visitors in the event of an incident and are designed to improve emergency response time and SCPD actions in critical situations such as a building lockdown,” he said.
WILLIAM FLOYD SCHOOL DISTRICT
In recent years, the William Floyd School District, according to a school spokesperson, has made investments to expand their security force to become one of the largest among districts across Long Island.
“We are in constant communication with our partners in law enforcement and work closely with our school resource officer and officers from the COPE unit on a daily basis,” James Montalto, spokesperson, said.
The district also holds regular lockdown drills (all must be announced per NYS beginning this year) to prepare for an emergency situation and the schools are always in lockout—schools locked from the inside. The schools have a strict procedure with visitors that includes entering into one entryway and through two sets of doors with a vestibule in between and providing identification.
Periodically, the district also hosts the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office for in-school presentations and security assessments, and, regularly, law enforcement officials from the Department of Homeland Security are invited in to review their security plan and procedures as a way to help identify any potential weaknesses in the security plan.
“Although our district does not widely and publicly share things related to security, for obvious reasons, the district’s No. 1 priority is, and will continue to be, the safety of our students and staff,” Montalto said.
Additional prevention measures include perimeter fencing, guard booth entrance procedures, identification procedures, vestibule procedures and parking lot patrols, 24/7 security coverage, increase in security force, ongoing communication with school resource officers, extensive coverage for large-scale events (graduation, concerts, athletic events), and SCPD evening patrols on school grounds.
Throughout and at the end of each day, building checks are conducted, gate checks, surveillance camera upgrades and AEDs in all schools checked by athletic office each year. The district also works with local EMS officials on repeater upgrades, radio purchases, facilities inspections, a window numbering system and confidential reunification plans.
Homeland Security and SCPD has conducted active shooter training on their campus (no students present and at no cost to the district) and the district regularly hosts Stop-the-Bleed trainings with NYU Langone and Narcan training for employees (no cost to the district).
William Floyd also participates in the county’s RAVE system and have an agreement with SCPD regarding the camera share program. The Suffolk County Police Department has also installed the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system in various public locations throughout the district.
Additionally, armed guards are used for elections (any votes that are open to the public).
“Our district has been, and continues to be, vigilant regarding school safety and security. Protecting the nearly 9,400 students that we have the privilege of educating, as well as the more than 1,500 employees serving our students, is the No. 1 priority in all that we do,” said superintendent of schools Kevin Coster. “Students cannot thrive, and our faculty and staff cannot be effective if they do not feel safe. We are doing all that we can on a daily basis to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”
The district also has a confidential hotline in place where residents can leave an anonymous message with any concerns: (631) 874-1200.
