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Sewanhaka board describes weapon incident at New Hyde Park Memorial, pledges review of safety communications
Summary
Board members reported that a student was apprehended after an anonymous tip led police to recover an unloaded BB gun and a folding knife at New Hyde Park Memorial; the district said it debriefed with police and will review its communication and safety protocols.
A Sewanhaka Central High School District official told the board on Nov. 24 that an anonymous tip earlier this month led law enforcement to a student at New Hyde Park Memorial who had brought a weapon to campus. "Within minutes, the Nassau County Police Department and Homeland Security arrived on campus and the student was apprehended," the official said, adding that "an unloaded BB gun and a multipurpose folding knife were retrieved from the student's backpack."
The district said the police escorted the student and a parent from the building and that the principal sent a message to New Hyde Park parents after the Nassau County Police Department completed its initial investigation. The board representative said the district "debriefed to review our responses" with both the Nassau County Police Department and Homeland Security and emphasized that the response followed the district's code of conduct.
During public comment, parent Masuma Zakir thanked the board for the follow-up but asked what additional security measures would be put in place to prevent a similar incident. The chair reminded the audience that public comment is for statements rather than Q&A and said staff would follow up with the parent after the meeting.
The district also reiterated that counseling staff are available to support students and encouraged families to speak with children about the seriousness of bringing prohibited items to school. The board said it will continue to review safety protocols and communication practices; no new formal policy was proposed or voted on during the Nov. 24 meeting.
What happened: Board representative (speech at the Nov. 24 meeting) described the timeline of law enforcement response, items recovered and parent communications. What the board pledged: a debrief with law enforcement and an internal review of safety protocols and messaging to families. What remains open: parents asked for specific security measures; the board said staff would follow up but did not announce any concrete new security measures or votes at the meeting.
