[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6056477,"mediaKeyId","3310175-166cd7316aa482b2925e198d629281d2","parentId",3310175,"title","Sweet Home board hears safety‑plan revisions after high school lockdown; 30‑day public comment opens","audioSeconds",1182,"startMs",104000,"endMs",1286000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310175-166cd7316aa482b2925e198d629281d2&start=104&end=1286","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310175-166cd7316aa482b2925e198d629281d2/thumbnail_104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6056477/New-York/Sweet-Home-board-hears-safetyplan-revisions-after-high-school-lockdown-30day-public-comment-opens","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056477-21c36f1745c56b362a910687349eaee8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114879&Signature=PjPTDnO25IhIgNDcfG2wVPLk4I~b1GExbapyw~tfYFY4FD5arz0-L3W9Kb8oTwQgpbrvwQvPj6H056Fi23L76K69fndPxVzdQFhVM3YJtDX2KR2coCwuimkO-3U0zt1VZ3TpaGAifeSdciWwkvYtpMnTFPESUu6lFFBRdyymlqFJX9Vuu5vnifevn3d~sBxDJ3HQFPeTr26-7m9Ng99ZzEQTLuTaqmPBAgRwK-W40rgODZLatoO4hoq8Q1DqP7DmryiLrIKfcqbTnGavoNLAedxgoZ8Xt1sgDOV2fwrd6zTuRRuDbh~1002P09D74IG5DQd9KNeTYTN~dZn7UDy5iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-14T11:41:30Z","article","The Sweet Home Central School District on Monday presented revisions to its districtwide school safety plan following a lockdown the previous day, and said it will post a redacted plan tomorrow and open a 30‑day public comment period.

District officials said the lockdown prompted a multi‑agency response and underscored the need to update plan language and add an appendix for crisis response. \"The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff take priority, over, over everything,\" Superintendent Dr. Genestri said, thanking first responders and school personnel for their response.

The draft changes described to the board cover how the district will name and use specific emergency procedures and add guidance for post‑incident support. Mr. Feldman told the board that \"per New York State Education Law 2801‑a and the New York State Commissioner's Regulation 155.17, public school districts must adopt both a districtwide school safety plan and a building level emergency response plan for each school building in the district.\" He said the district safety committee — composed of administrators, principals, clerical staff, nurses and other stakeholders — reviewed the draft several times during the 2024–25 school year.

Key proposed changes include splitting the existing \"shelter in place\" language so that \"shelter in place\" applies to external threats such as severe weather, while a new \"hold in place\" procedure would apply to short‑term internal incidents (medical emergencies, fights) where limiting movement within a building is appropriate. The district also plans to rename \"lockout\" as \"secure lockout\" and says exterior doors are kept locked at all times.

Administrators recommended adding Appendix 7, a crisis response plan drafted by the district's Trauma, Illness and Grief (TIG) team and presented by Anne Nowak of the Family Support Center and Katie Barilari, director of special programs. The appendix outlines guidance for responding to students or staff experiencing emotional crises and for coordinating school‑based supports following an incident.

District staff said they will post a redacted copy of the districtwide safety plan to the district website tomorrow and accept public comments for 30 days, then hold a public hearing after the comment period. Building‑level emergency response plans will remain confidential and be shared only with local responders. The district reminded the board that, per state rules cited in the presentation, districtwide plans must be approved by the board by Sept. 1 and submitted to the New York State Education Department by Oct. 1.

Administrators also said the district will reprint and laminate updated placards that describe the revised terminology and place them in classrooms over the summer.

During public comment, several parents and students praised school staff for their response to the lockdown and asked the district to evaluate communications and student accounting during the incident. Student government representative Maisha said students \"did really well understanding the importance of staying collected,\" and urged better access to phones in emergencies so students can check with families while maintaining orderly procedures.

The presentation was informational; the board did not vote on the plan at the meeting. District staff said they expect to return in June to summarize public comments and seek board approval ahead of the state deadline.

The proposed changes as described will be open for public comment for 30 days beginning with the district's posting tomorrow.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Board of Education Voting Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Sweet Home Central School District on Monday presented revisions to its districtwide school safety plan following a lockdown the previous day, and said it will post a redacted plan tomorrow and open a 30‑day public comment period.","taxTitle","SWEET HOME CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",69150,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6056472,"Parents and residents press Sweet Home board on lockdown communications, allege undisclosed electric‑bus purchases",1230,1695000,2925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310175-166cd7316aa482b2925e198d629281d2&start=1695&end=2925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310175-166cd7316aa482b2925e198d629281d2/thumbnail_1695000.jpg","/articles/6056472/New-York/Parents-and-residents-press-Sweet-Home-board-on-lockdown-communications-allege-undisclosed-electricbus-purchases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056472-acfb98014952b071e5a0d2df3d457993/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114879&Signature=Vr7Ol1fcOHxVeozyZ3vSaeeede8ZisCRW9daeH6vgVitlMWSlSu7aufk66r7xBoL4o~YUv-rvrG5Ygvz4u~E~8pcztaYGPxubdcTL4dfSVw33Tj2tKZ1uHgB6Ac5YN6yTLDZXJVO-dZ4gW3kZnLkqc-v2SD3TMTZp6yEnQgySxrGZv8WfRQj2CGlmSuT2ElTBJ4SQJJigFl48UqhPMcy03G-i5bFjZHfoyI0gNoljXJ-2ejy~DpX4hRrlJzZgzpn-t-Kt3DxBKtwJ9T5A2XHlrGlQhm1kqHX7FSdZaQ8X3v5llisBURU7LEytvUuHDE9uF8bqc6WXURJPtHG7SK11w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and parents used the board's public comment periods to criticize district communications during a recent high school lockdown and to allege the district is purchasing additional electric buses without public notice or a charging‑infrastructure plan.

\"Waiting almost until 3PM to provide an update, in my opinion, was completely unacceptable,\" parent Amanda Jones told the board, describing a sequence of district messages she said arrived at 12:49 p.m., 1:14 p.m. and 2:54 p.m. during the incident. Jones asked the district to evaluate communication procedures and how student accounting was verified after learning of at least one student who had left school before the incident.

Several residents also criticized district leadership and raised transportation concerns. Peter Hoisick, who identified himself as a Millwood Drive resident, urged voters not to reelect current board members and alleged the district is \"buying 6 more\" electric buses while failing to plan for charging infrastructure. \"This is the second year in a row that I have come here before a budget vote to find out that you're buying electric buses and there's no plan to get electric infrastructure charging for them,\" he said. Hoisick also claimed charging infrastructure would cost \"millions\" and referenced a printed notice he received; the district did not provide a response to his allegations during the meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Genestri and other administrators addressed why parents were asked not to come to the school during the lockdown, telling the audience that arriving at the building can impede first responders and increase risk. \"Coming to the building puts all of us at more of a risk... It also blocked first responders from entering our facility,\" Genestri said.

Board members and administrators repeatedly thanked staff, students and law enforcement for their response during the lockdown; student government representative Maisha also praised how students followed instructions. The meeting record shows no formal board action or motion regarding the electric‑bus claims or the specific communications complaints; administrators said they would debrief and work with Amherst Police Department to review the lockdown response.

The allegations about electric‑bus procurement and charging costs were raised as public comment and were not accompanied by a district explanation or supporting documents in the meeting record. Amanda Jones asked the district to clarify how attendance was verified so the public can understand statements that \"all students are accounted for.\" The board did not provide additional details at the meeting.

Public comments also included requests for broader community engagement in district events such as the Challenge for Change program; those items were discussed by board members and staff but are separate from the safety and procurement concerns raised during public comment.

No formal actions were recorded as a result of the public comments at this meeting; members of the public said they expect follow‑up and clearer communications from the district ahead of the upcoming budget vote.","Public commenters at the board meeting criticized the district's communication during a recent lockdown, questioned student accounting and raised unverified claims that the district is buying six electric buses without a charging plan. The board did not take formal action on the allegations during the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Sweet Home board hears safety‑plan revisions after high school lockdown; 30‑day public comment opens

Parents and residents press Sweet Home board on lockdown communications, allege undisclosed electric‑bus purchases