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.

Attorney Gary Steffanetta, who represents the school district, explained that New York State Education law prohibits school administrators from discussing incidents like this. "Due process was immediately put in place and proceedings are underway," said Steffanetta. This process includes a hearing before district administrators with a decision rendered by the superintendent. That decision can be appealed by the parents of the accused students. The members of the school board, who serve as a corporate body, review the appeal.

Jon Amdur, whose child witnessed the incident in the junior high cafeteria and was deeply affected by what he saw, addressed the board members and school administrators. "How can we make this situation better?" asked Amdur. "Now we need to take proactive steps… student IDs need to be checked… random locker and backpack checks. There needs to be a better communication process. What are we going to do?"

"The threat was very real to my child," said Amdur.

There were no arrests made in either incident and this inaction further angered parents in attendance. Arrests are the purview of the police, and it was determined by the police in both cases that these were toy and/or replica guns. "A toy gun is not a weapon and it is not something that will get you arrested," said Steffanetta. "However, if a student has a replica handgun they can and will be disciplined."

The Babylon School District Code of Conduct makes explicit reference to what acts, including the possession of a weapon or "what appears to be a weapon" constitute violence in the school. The code further explains what disciplinary action is taken. The Code of Conduct is available on the district's website under district information and then district policies.

Privacy of all students in all situations must be maintained according to our state and federal laws, explained Steffanetta. In particular, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), first enacted in 1974, is the best known and most influential law governing student privacy. Among other protections, it prohibits school districts from releasing information about a student without prior parental consent.

Still, parents had a hard time accepting such privacy protections when such incidents of potential violence are involved.

"This is something the community has to know about. The privacy of this child is not as important as the safety of other children. We don't feel safe here. You're not going to get our support for the budget or anything else unless you do something," said parent Alice Peplinski.

"No one doubts your sincerity here. Don't hide behind legalese. You are missing the fact that people are scared to death," said parent Greg Antolini.

"You have no idea the level of activity we have, as a district, done to deal with troubled kids," said Eric Freidman, principal of the Babylon Memorial Grade School, where the BB gun incident occurred. "The suggestion that we don't care or we are incompetent is inappropriate."

Earlier in the evening, Freidman assured parents that any time a child is threatened they should go to any employee in the building. "We stop what we are doing and investigate," said Freidman.

This is precisely what happened concerning the two separate incidents at the two separate schools. In the case of the cafeteria incident, a student notified a teacher in the cafeteria and within minutes two other teachers were involved and the child was intercepted and taken to Assistant Principal Steven Goldberg's office. This is the account that high school teacher and Babylon Teachers Association president Dennis Lally offered to those in attendance at the December 8 board meeting. "The situation was handled quickly. Very few kids were even aware that anything even happened," said Lally.

"The police officer was here for two hours at the high school to review the situation," said Goldberg. "The investigation was within the hands of the First Police Precinct."

In a subsequent phone call to the district, Superintendent Dr. Ellen Best-Laimit said it's good that kids told in both cases. That is why she called for a school-wide assembly following the incidents. The informational assembly was handled by the district's resource police officer. The superintendent also mentioned that several parents had called her office after the incidents occurred and after the December 8th board meeting to express their satisfaction with the way the situations were handled.

The superintendent's letter dated December 15, 2008 outlined several notification and security measures put in place, as a result of the community's concern over these incidents. These include a greater presence of New York State licensed security personnel and the requirement that every student carry their ID badge with them at all times at the high school. Teachers and staff will also be given ID badges at all three schools. Enhancements to the current surveillance system are also under review. Communication with parents/guardians will now make use of ConnectEd, a telephone alert system. ConnectEd experienced a coincidental test run on Friday, December 19, 2008, when it was used to alert parents that after school activities were cancelled due to the snowstorm.

"We got off easy as a district," said parent Andrew Amelia. "It should be district policy to inform parents first. In my opinion, you failed. The school district and community got caught off guard."

"How are we going to move forward? We have to do something different," said school board member Thomas Melito.

Related Educational Meetings

The PTA will hold a meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 7:45 p.m. in the Grade School cafeteria to discuss results of the Prevention Needs Assessment that was conducted at the Junior-Senior High School last spring. The assessment indicates the level to which children are participating in risky behaviors. The January 26, 2009 Work/Study meeting of the board of education will be dedicated to the issue of security and will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Rowe Hall at the Junior-Senior High School.

In addition, readers can view the Prevention Needs Assessment and results on the school district's website.