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Cohoes school board candidates emphasize drills, police coordination and student reporting in safety plans
Summary
At a May candidates forum, four Cohoes City School District school board candidates described safety priorities that center on regular drills, close coordination with police and fire departments, and encouraging students to report concerns — including options for anonymous reporting.
At a candidates forum for the Cohoes City School District, four school board candidates said improving school safety — including active-shooter preparedness — should be a top priority for the district.
Candidates described existing drills, closer coordination with public safety agencies and steps to make students feel able to report threats. The forum was moderated by Barbara Bartolini of the League of Women Voters and held at Cohoes High School.
The candidates said drills are a routine part of school safety. Sarah Burwell, a board candidate, said, "They practice 12 drills a year, 4 lockdowns. I might be mixing that up," when describing how often students rehearse responses. Susan Guzzi Paradis, a current board member and candidate, said she serves on the board safety committee and described active collaboration with municipal agencies: "I am actually on the safety committee of the board, and we meet regularly with the Cohoes Police Department, the Fire Department."
Candidates recommended continuing staff training and outside-agency exercises. Paradis said police and fire personnel help staff identify communication gaps during drills and reinforce protocols: they "can reinforce the codes for the teachers, for the staff" and can "help the staff to fix those problems," she said.
Several candidates also urged empowering students to report concerns. Sarah Burwell said schools should "encourage them that if you think something's off, tell somebody" and that the district should provide ways to report anonymously when students are uncomfortable speaking up directly.
The forum featured student-written questions; candidates repeatedly framed safety as a reason to support staff training, clearer entry procedures and greater school–public-safety coordination. No formal board actions were taken at the forum; candidates described policies they would support if elected.
The forum closed with moderator Barbara Bartolini reminding voters to participate in the May 20 election for school board seats and the district budget.
