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Edison BOE looks to improve school safety

RICHMOND — School safety was a source of discussion last week during the Edison Local Board of Education meeting as leaders looked at potential measures to improve security at district buildings.

The board held its monthly session at Edison High School in Richmond, where officials discussed ways to keep students, faculty and staff safe. Ideas included active intruder drills to triage training for educators.

Superintendent Bill Beattie said nothing was set in stone but leaders were eyeing different methods to benefit everyone in the schools.

“We’re looking at additional measures we can do within the buildings and maybe additional training for staff,” Beattie said. “We’re trying to do the best we can to make sure the buildings are as secure and safe as possible.”

The goal, Beattie said, was to retrain and train any new teachers on ALICE drills and possibly conduct an active drill involving teachers and students by the end of the school year to acclimate them with the process.

ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) provides preparation and a plan for individuals and organizations on how to more proactively handle the threat of an aggressive intruder or active shooter event. The training also is available for government buildings, businesses and law enforcement.

Also being eyed is triage-based training to provide some medical assistance if needed during actual emergencies. Following a two-hour executive session on the topic, no action was taken and Beattie said matters would be reviewed further.

Meanwhile, leaders also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Edison Local Educators Association (ELEA) to ratify a one-year contract with the organization.

“We ratified a one-year contract with ELEA in which we included a 2.5-percent raise and rollover of the language,” he commented.

The ELEA’s current contract expired on June 15 and the new pact should be in place by summer.

In other action, the board:

— Approved contracts for non-certified staff members, including bus driver Gregory Bell for two years; continuing contracts for paraprofessional aides Sheri Cronin, Shelly Easter and Toni Carpenter; continuing contracts for custodians Bill Goddard and Fred Stine and two-year pacts for James Still and Doug Lucsko (part-time); cook Kari Speedy for two years; secretary Casey Barnhouse for two years; and Tracey Matta for two years. Additionally, Heather Call was hired as a parapro aide retroactive to Feb. 26 and given a two-year contract.

— Recognized EHS students who attended the Close Up program last month in Washington, D.C.

— Approved the substitute teacher list for March, which includes Karen Edmond for grades K-8 and short-term sub Paul Harbert for general education.

— Accepted the resignation of Mycaela Ensell as sophomore class advisor and approved a supplemental contract for Kris Turk for the post.

— Approved a military leave of absence for Justyne Strohmeyer effective March 21.

— Approved Harry Richardson as an additional bus driver for 2017-18.

— Adopted a resolution declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

— Approved participation in state and federal programs for the 2018-19 school year and approved Assistant Superintendent Kim Wadas as the authorized representative.

— Approved a bilateral articulation agreement with Eastern Gateway Community College.

— Approved the treasurer’s report.

— Set the next meeting for 7 p.m. April 19 at John Gregg Elementary.

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