Cumberland committee seeks ordinance tweak and approves police detail at B.F. Norton after incident

CUMBERLAND — In response to a recent safety incident at B.F. Norton, the Cumberland School Committee on Thursday asked town leaders to amend a loitering ordinance and approved a resolution for a yearlong police detail at the school.

Committee member Miss Smith said the proposed change to Town Ordinance Chapter 26‑8 is "minor but monumental" in light of the event at B.F. Norton and would add specific language making it unlawful to loiter "in any schoolyard during school hours," giving the police chief clearer authority to determine hours of enforcement.

The motion to request the ordinance amendment was made by Miss Smith and seconded by Miss Shea with discussion; the committee approved the request, 6–0.

On the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Thornton and the district's safety team, the committee also voted to add a police detail at B.F. Norton for the school year. "We think it would be a good idea to have... the police car in the front as the students are playing in an area," Dr. Thornton said, recommending the detail and explaining officers would assist at other times of day as well.

The resolution authorizing the detail was moved by Ms. Shay and seconded by Mister Bacon; the committee approved it 6–0.

Both measures arose from district safety reviews and are intended to provide an immediate, visible presence at the school while the district and town consider longer‑term safety steps. The ordinance request must be taken up by the town; the police detail will be implemented by the district in coordination with local law enforcement.