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Parents ask Westbury board to investigate reported interactions between contracted guards and students; district urges formal complaints
Summary
At the May 12 meeting a parent said community members reported concerning interactions between some contracted security guards and female students; district leaders described reporting channels, named security supervisors and said Arrow Security personnel undergo de‑escalation and professionalism trainings, while urging parents to file formal complaints for investigation.
A Westbury parent raised concerns at the May 12 board meeting about interactions between some contracted security guards and female students, prompting administrators to outline reporting procedures, supervision arrangements and recent training for contracted personnel.
"There have been reports of interactions involving male security guards and female students...I do believe that these concerns warrant attention and transparency," parent Isabella Hamilton said in public comment and asked what safeguards exist to ensure professional boundaries, how to report concerns and what training Arrow Security guards receive.
District leaders said this was the first time they had heard those specific concerns and asked parents to file formal complaints so the administration could investigate. A member of the administration emphasized that any reported concern would be taken seriously: "If in fact a parent feels that there's inappropriate interaction with any staff member...they are to report that immediately," she said and referenced DASA as one reporting pathway.
Jennifer Doyle, the district's security supervisor, and assistant supervisor Zanetta Dean described current training: guards recently completed de‑escalation training and will take a professionalism class scheduled for the end of the month. They said onboarding for Arrow Security personnel is performed by district security leadership, supervisors maintain radio and phone contact with guards, and the district has mechanisms to remove or replace contracted staff if performance concerns arise.
Dr. Bloom explained why the district used a contracted vendor: civil‑service hiring lists for security guards have been effectively empty for about 18 months, preventing timely district hires; contracting filled staffing needs recommended in prior security assessments and the district will reduce contracted positions as civil‑service candidates become available.
Trustees cautioned about publicly repeating allegations without formal complaints because such remarks can cast suspicion on unnamed individuals; they again urged parents who believe they have evidence or witnessed incidents to file reports identifying the staff and the staff who were told so administrators can investigate.
Administrators said sexual‑harassment awareness training is required annually for staff and that the district would pursue reports and, if warranted, immediate investigative steps and personnel actions. Parents were encouraged to email the board or superintendent and to follow the district's formal complaint channels.
