Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mount Sinai district reviews lockdown response, outlines security upgrades
Summary
Following a fast police response to reported gunfire near campus, district leaders told the board they completed a lockdown, reviewed procedures and are pursuing capital-project security upgrades including electronic classroom locks and an improved phone/PA system.
Mount Sinai Union Free School District officials told the Board of Education that a lockdown last week — prompted by reports of possible gunfire near campus — ended after a rapid check of buildings by Suffolk County police and that the district will pursue planned security upgrades.
Superintendent Dr. Christiani told the board that Suffolk County Police arrived within minutes, checked each building and found no threat to students or staff. "Incredibly blessed to have Suffolk County PD here in minutes. I never saw such a fast response in my life and it was incredible," Dr. Christiani said. She reported that staff locked down buildings, maintained composure and kept students calm while police conducted searches.
The district described how the incident was handled and the distinction between a full lockdown and a "lock," which allows in-building instruction to continue while doors remain secured. According to district remarks, after the police gave an all-clear, staff were allowed to move between buildings, and parents were permitted to pick up students. The district also said it used the incident as a review opportunity and met as an administrative team to identify improvements.
As part of previously approved capital work driven by safety reviews with Suffolk County police and Homeland Security, the district said it is planning internal classroom doors with electronic locking mechanisms, outer-door jar alarms to detect doors propped open, a timed swipe system to limit building access, and an updated telephone/PA system that would let staff trigger districtwide lockdown messages from more locations or by phone. Officials said those components were submitted for state approval in "September or early October" and are part of the same project that includes baseball and softball field work.
The superintendent said the new phone/PA capability would let staff call a lockdown from any classroom phone or, in some cases, a cell phone, rather than requiring a staff member to reach a main office PA console. The district characterized the required state approval as the remaining implementation hurdle for those systems.
Board members and students also referenced ongoing emergency-preparedness work. The district reminded the community that an upcoming emergency-preparedness drill will use a 20-minute early dismissal to practice timed bus evacuations and other procedures.
Officials said they would continue to review procedures and implement the approved capital upgrades once state approvals are complete.
