During a recent school board meeting, parents voiced urgent concerns regarding school safety in light of the increasing frequency of school shootings across the country. Two parents, Michelle and Catherine Vedola, highlighted the need for enhanced security measures, specifically the implementation of automatically locking classroom doors and wearable panic buttons for teachers.

Michelle, a parent of two, referenced the tragic school shooting at Apalache High School in Georgia, which resulted in the deaths of two children and two teachers. She emphasized that the automatic locking doors and panic buttons used in that incident significantly mitigated the potential for greater loss of life. She noted that the locked doors prevented the shooter from entering classrooms, while the panic buttons allowed for a swift police response.

Catherine Vedola echoed these sentiments, stressing that the current security measures in Weston schools are inadequate. She pointed out that her daughter's classroom doors have never been locked during her three years at the school, leaving students vulnerable. Vedola argued that relying on teachers to manually lock doors during a crisis is not only impractical but also unfair, as it places the burden of safety on them in high-stress situations.

Both parents called for immediate action from the school board to implement these critical safety features, urging that the well-being of students and staff must be the top priority. They requested a timeline for the implementation of these measures within the next two weeks, emphasizing that the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. The parents expressed their willingness to support the board in these efforts, underscoring a collective commitment to ensuring a safe learning environment for all students.