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Board schedules public forum on school security; staff say limited arming could start this year
Summary
The East Lyme School Board set a public forum for Thursday on a proposed security strategy that includes discussion of arming some security personnel. District staff said volunteers may complete training this year and that wider deployment would occur next school year.
Board members and staff discussed the district’s comprehensive security strategy and logistics for a public forum on the proposal to arm certain security personnel at schools. Committee member (S4) opened public concern by asking whether students were aware of the forum; staff encouraged outreach through the morning show and district communications.
Staff said the forum will be held Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria, will include a short presentation and an extended question period, and that district FAQs and a letter with a link were posted on the district website. "If they wanna find [the FAQ] it's on the security page under departments," a staff member noted when asked where to find background information.
On timing and implementation, a district staff speaker told the board that broad deployment was not imminent and that the district intends to treat armed personnel as one part of a wider security strategy. "The only thing we're gonna attempt to do is have Don and Matt become armed for this the rest of this year," the staff speaker said, adding that training must be completed; fuller deployment was anticipated for the next school year.
Board members and several staff speakers emphasized that adding armed personnel is only one component of a larger approach that includes mental health supports, improved student engagement and other prevention measures. The district said it will take care in public communications to avoid disclosing sensitive security details. The public forum will include staff responses to written public comments and opportunities for residents to ask questions in person.
