S.B. adds warrant item

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor

LONGMEADOW Voters will be asked to reallocate funds for the purchase and installation of security systems for the school district at the Nov. 28 Town Meeting.

This separate Town Meeting warrant item was voted on last week by the Longmeadow Select Board after the School Committee voiced their concerns about school safety.

Select Board member William Scibelli came up with a proposal that addresses what he believes are the most pressing security issues.

"I, and other members of the Select Board, were presented at our last meeting on the Nov. 6th with a school security issues chart prepared by the superintendent and it listed a number of defiencies in the school system when it came to the schools," Scibelli explained. "It broke it down in terms of security systems and then structural improvements that are neccessary in order to implement a security system. I met with Paul Pastercyzk, our finance director, and sat down with him and went over the chart with him and told him what my priorities were."

"I believed [some things] needed to be done yesterday. So, luckily, we found some money available in a school bonding project," he said.

The projects prioritized in Scibelli's proposal total $383,617. They include security systems like intercoms, cameras, Connect Ed (a phone system used to contact parents on an emergency basis), closed circuit communication system (for example, walkie talkies). These will systems would be used across the district and art the Greenwood Children's Center because of its before and after school programs. There are issues with doors and windows as well. However, those funds have to be used on something that has the same life as the original bond 30 years.

"The $275,000 from Blueberry can only pay for the nuts and bolts," Scibelli said, adding that the funds will be able to cover things like doors and windows, but not the electronic needs.

Scibelli's proposal also suggests possible funding mechanisms. He said $275,000 is available from a Blueberry Hill School and Wolf Swamp bonding project.

The town is also expecting to receive about $63,000 back from Capital Planning. Scibelli said a few years back the town gave them money for the safety complex that will be paid off in 2007.

So Scibelli said in total it is feasible that there could be $275,000 from the Blueberry bond, $63,000 from capital stabilization fund, and another possible $45,000 coming from capital projects that are complete and came in under the budgeted amount.

He said he's asking the residents approve the realloaction of funds because "these are projects that need to be done right now."

"We want to be able to lock the school doors today," he said, noting that teachers have been using part of their hours monitoring doors.

"I think we got town, across the board, support for doing this," Scibelli added. "I'm not asking anyone to pay a dime in taxes. I'm just asking to reallocate the money. The top priority is to make sure kids are safe in the school system."