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Committee focuses on school safety issues

By Natasha Clark

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW The Longmeadow School Committee is working on improving school safety throughout the district. The Committee discussed progress at their Oct. 23 meeting.

Superintendent E. Jahn Hart stated that there were some vulnerabilities that needed to be addressed.

Longmeadow Police Chief Robert Danio said that every school system's different and most schools are "fairly lax" when it comes to security.

"It's not very often that anyone is challenged walking into a building," Danio said.

Larry Berte, Principal of Longmeadow High School, said that students are just as responsible for school safety.

"We really emphasize with kids to be a part of it," Berte said, using students opening the school doors for unfamiliar people as an example.

Hart and members of the School Committee were scheduled to meet the following day with school administrators to discuss safety issues specific to each school.

Issues will be prioritized and reported to the School Committee prior to a Nov. 6 meeting, where School Committee Chair Mary Vogel and Vice Chair Jim Nittoli will present a safety plan to the Select Board.