Parents air concerns about two incidents in Babylon School District

By Janine Logan     The Dec. 8, 2008 school board meeting at which dozens of parents expressed their fears and concerns regarding two separate incidents that occurred in school buildings on Wednesday, November 26, 2008, prompted the school administration to subsequently send a letter to parents/guardians outlining improved communications and security measures.  The first incident occurred at 8:30 a.m. at the Babylon Memorial Grade School where a student was found with a BB gun. The second incident occurred at 11:40 a.m. in the junior high cafeteria at the Babylon Junior- Senior High School where a student had what turned out to be a replica gun.  Both incidents were reported to the police and fully investigated by the First Precinct. Anger erupted at the standing-room only Dec. 8 board meeting, because parents/guardians felt notification of the incidents did not happen quickly enough.  A message regarding the incidents was on the district’s website by 6:00 p.m. that day. Parents were further frustrated by the inability to learn more about the disciplinary actions being taken against the two students.  The district posted information about the incidents after an extensive investigation of the facts by the police and school administrators and after talking to the accused students and their parents.  A letter regarding the BB gun incident went home with grade school students that same day. Read this week's edition of the Babylon Beacon for more detailed story.