North Babylon High School students were evacuated on November 5 due to threats scrawled on a bathroom stall aimed at the student body and the principal. A week before, graffiti was found on the handball courts including swastikas and another threat against high school Principal Ray Williams.

This week, community members and even the superintendent voiced their concerns about the incidents at the school board meeting on November 20.

"We find the actions of these few individuals deplorable," said Superintendent of North Babylon Schools Dr. Robert Aloise at the meeting. "The actions of a few do not speak to North Babylon High School students as a whole."

Dr. Aloise is confident that police will find the culprits of the most recent threats.

"The last incident happened in a particular bathroom of the high school, written on a stall," said Dr. Aloise. Because of video surveillance in the area, and knowledge of when the incident took place, the school gathered the names of students who used the bathroom at that time. "The administration handed over the names of those students to police, gave them the footage and now they are in the process of interrogating the suspects."

"If you do this, it is not a prank. It is a crime and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," said Dr. Aloise.

As for the threats against Mr. Williams, the new high school principal, Dr. Aloise praised the community for supporting him through this ordeal. "Mr. Williams is in a stronger position now," said Dr. Aloise. "The students, parents and staff have really rallied around the principal. His stature has grown - and he was tall to begin with," said Dr. Aloise with a smile. "He has become more and more endeared to the community."

While no one was physically hurt in these incidents, the school district has beefed up security, especially in the high school and middle school.

Since the incident, cameras have been posted outside the bathrooms. Students are now required to wear IDs. There are periodic locker and backpack checks. Faculty members stand at the bathroom door to sign students into the restrooms. Because Mr. Williams is black, and the threats might have been based in racism, all students in their social studies classes will watch a film about the history of America's racism.

While the crowds at the board meeting seemed pleased by the increased security, many community members wanted more.

Parent Laura Carlo had spoken about the need for more security guards at the last school board meeting, before these incidents occurred. These bias epitaphs only increased her feelings that the school needs to hire more guards. Although there are 35 security guards on staff in the district, there are only two cars - four guards - that float between the seven schools during nights and weekends. "I would like to see more personnel at night and on weekends," she said. She would also like to see "more lights and cameras that work."

It wasn't just the high school that parents were concerned about. Two weeks ago, a group of parents and concerned citizens from Woods Road Elementary School in North Babylon formed a safety committee. Noting that the school is sometimes a hangout for older kids, "We are unsatisfied with the level of security there," said Andrew Biondo, a parent of three kids in the North Babylon School District and a member of the new committee. "There are some gaps that need to be addressed," such as the lack of security guards, a need for more lighting and more surveillance cameras, Biondo said.

Biondo is concerned that the financial crunch will endanger his hopes for increased security. "I wouldn't want them to overlook the already fragile safety programs," because of fiscal concerns, commented Biondo. "These improvements will come at a cost."

There are no plans, as of now, to hire more security staff in the district, commented Dr. Aloise. He did note that the security teams are now being worked harder with an increase in hours, a redistribution of staff to different areas and extended shifts, explained Dr. Aloise.

"We have guards almost on a 24-hour basis which I believe is sufficient," said Dr. Aloise.

As for cameras, currently there are approximately 100 cameras in the district, and the district is hoping for more. When the State is done reviewing the Excel Bond for capital improvements, there is a provision for the school to receive 100 more cameras, said Dr. Aloise. Until then, some cameras have been relocated to strategic places in the district.