Signs posted on the inside and outside doors at MS 146 demonstrate the difficulty, danger and frustration of trying to keep kids safe in public schools.
Ever since the horrific school shootings last month at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, that took 26 lives—20 children and six adults— the subject of school safety has been thrust into the national spotlight.
A shock wave of attention followed, including considerations to post armed guards at every school, along with a host of other proposals,all leading to the same take home message—keep kids safe and totally secure their school buildings.
But in regard to school safety at one Howard Beach school, major concerns have arisen over the Department of Education’s (DoE) “open door policy” which simply stated says you can’t stop taxpaying citizens with business at the school from coming in, so the doors stay open.
But a sign posted on the main entrance door at MS 146 in Howard Beach explains some other details about that policy and offers no comfort to anyone worried about the safety of children at that school and in public schools across the city.
Sealed in plastic and very well attached to the front door, the sign reads:
Dear Parents and Guardians.
We were notified today by the office of school safety, that the main entrance doors could not be locked. The doors must be opened to allow first responders entrance to the building.
I was also informed that due to union regulations, our security agents are not required to open the doors.
The letter is undated and unsigned, however The Forum confirmed that it has been there for at least two weeks. The school’s principal, Mr. James McKeon acknowledges having written it and having it posted.
According to McKeon, the letter was placed on the door in order to explain the reversal of his decision that had been made to lock the school doors directly following the Sandy Hook’ shootings.
On the Friday the incident occured, December 14, MS 146 had themselves held a safety drill and when they came back to school on Monday the 17th, McKeon made the decision to lock the doors.
But choosing to go against department regulations and lock the doors of the school resulted in an order from the DoE to open the doors immediately, leaving the principal no choice. The sign was posted directly after that to explain the reversal of position.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to me that the city chooses to make a decision to actually prevent safety,” said Janet M. who says she helps out by picking up her nephew at school on occasion.
And when The Forum followed up with a visit to the school, concerns were not only re-inforced by the sign on the outside door, they were heightened by another letter posted on the inside of the door:
12/20/12
ATTENTION PARENTS AND STAFF
Please ensure the door is shut when you leave and that you do not let anyone else in when you exit the building and are on the other side of this door. Thank you.
The Forum’s trip inside MS 146 was a stark indicator of the dangers surrounding the city’s “open door policy” at schools.
A dimly lit set of twin staircases leads up to the floor of the administrative offices, classrooms and a desk at which a security agent is supposed to be in place.
The problem lies within the fact that anyone walking through the door could do so with adequate time to perpetrate unspeakable horror before anyone in the building even had a clue.
School safety in the city’s nearly 1,700 separate school buildings serving more than one million students, is tricky to nail down. Safety planning is diffuse and can vary from school to school, depending upon the individual needs of each school.
And some critics say that the 5,200 school safety agents, NYC currently has in place, are not adequate defense in terms preventing or protecting against violent random attacks at school.
Although these officers have peace officer status, meaning they carry handcuffs, NYPD-issued radios and shields and are authorized to make arrests as necessary, they are obviously without the equipment or weapons to defend against a situation posing a deadly threat to students, faculty and staff.
When how he felt after being forced to lock the school doors, an on the record James McKeon said, “My feeling is that school should be as safe as possible at all times,” a theory wholeheartedly supported by the school community at large.
Calls and emails to the DOE seeking comment on the “open door policy” were not returned as of press time. In addition, calls and emails to Local 237, the union which represents NYPD school safety agents in South Queens, were also not returned.
The Forum will continue to follow closely any developments with this story and bring you updates.
By Patricia Adams & Alan Krawitz
