Dear Families,

As we begin another school year, I want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to keeping students, staff and visitors safe every single day. Although our schools are in a safe and welcoming community, security remains important and is our highest priority. I want to tell you about the comprehensive measures we have in place to protect our school family.

Our Foundation of Safety
Every day, our dedicated staff works together to maintain a secure learning environment through multiple layers of protection. All staff receive annual comprehensive safety and security training at the start of the year and year-round updates to ensure everyone is prepared and informed on our protocols. Safety drills are conducted regularly. Our security protocols are constantly under review, ensuring we stay current with best practices. Our overarching goal is to ensure a secure learning environment while maintaining a warm and welcoming school environment. 

Physical Security Measures:

• All exterior doors remain locked throughout the day and are electronically monitored as well as physically checked
• Classroom doors stay locked during instruction to ensure secure learning spaces
• During the school day, our campuses have a single vehicle entrance and buildings have one designated visitor entry point
• All visitors are personally screened and receive temporary identification badges
• Our building exteriors and perimeters are monitored continuously through both physical and video surveillance
• Our staff are provided access to the RAVE App, which serves as a silent alarm system, allowing staff to quickly alert emergency responders when needed

Enhanced Safety Features This Year

Armed Security Personnel: Beginning this September, professionally trained armed security personnel will be stationed at each of our school buildings during school hours, with extended coverage at our High School and Middle School for after-school and evening activities.
Advanced Detection Technology: We're implementing a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence weapons detection system designed to immediately identify any drawn firearms and alert both district staff, armed guards and law enforcement.
Additional Camera Coverage: We have expanded our video surveillance system to provide enhanced monitoring capabilities throughout our campus, strengthening our ability to maintain awareness of all areas.
Security Film Installation: We have installed additional security film on glass surfaces throughout our buildings. This specialized film is designed to prevent forced entry through glass, providing an additional layer of protection for our students and staff.
Our Proactive Approach
Safety isn't just about responding to concerns—it's about preventing them. Our district proactively identifies potential issues through:

• Building-level Child Study Teams who know and care about every student
• Anonymous reporting tools available 24/7 through our Report-It system
• Advanced internet monitoring with our GoGuardian Beacon Alert program
• Comprehensive threat assessment protocols involving expert consultation

Threat Assessment Process: When the District receives notice of a potential school threat through any avenue, we immediately convene a threat assessment team to conduct a thorough evaluation. Our team reviews all relevant information with support from the Superintendent, District Administration, Security Consultant, and Law Enforcement. Police are always notified of substantive threats, and our local departments respond immediately as the experts in assessing threat credibility. We always err on the side of caution when it comes to potential school threats, and students who make threats are subject to both our Code of Conduct and mental health evaluation.

Mental Health and Student Support
Each of our buildings has dedicated Child Study Teams developed to help support any students that need assistance. These teams work closely with families to ensure every student receives the care and resources they need to succeed both academically and emotionally.
We encourage parents to reach out anytime regarding mental health resources and student support services. Our counselors and support staff are here to help connect you with appropriate resources and work collaboratively to support your child's wellbeing.
If you or your child ever sees or hears something concerning, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can:

• Use our anonymous Report-It tool (available on every page of our website)
• Contact any school administrator directly
• Speak with your child's teacher or counselor
• Call 911 in an emergency

For additional information on school safety, please visit the following link which includes past presentations on school safety, an emergency guide for families, and communication protocols used during an emergency: Safety & Security page

If you have any questions or would like to discuss our safety measures further, please don't hesitate to contact my office.
 
Gerard W. Poole
Superintendent of Schools
Shoreham-Wading River Central School District
631-821-8105
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