District presents 2026–27 safety plan, opens 30-day public comment

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District on July 1 presented its proposed districtwide safety plan for 2026–27 and voted to circulate the plan for a 30‑day public comment period beginning July 6.

During a presentation to the board, Chris Donnarumo, who provided an email contact for community feedback, called the turnout “probably the best we’ve ever had for our annual safety report” and described the document as a public summary of general procedures while noting that building‑level plans remain confidential. He said the district will name a chief emergency officer and a districtwide school safety team and will finalize the plan for board approval on Aug. 17 after the community comment period and any resulting revisions.

The plan outlines required drills and timing under state rules. Donnarumo summarized the schedule and legal requirements: “We’re required to facilitate at least 12 safety drills,” eight of which are to be completed before Dec. 31, with four lockdown drills also required. He said the district will give parents and guardians at least one week’s advance notice of drills to avoid unnecessary alarm.

The presentation emphasized Desha’s Law, the state cardiac emergency response requirement. Donnarumo said the district’s implementation of Desha’s Law had practical benefits, noting that board work in this area “helped to save a student’s life in our school district.” He described AED placement across buildings and procedures for designating responders, administering CPR and turning information over to emergency medical services.

Board members asked how the plans are communicated to programs that operate in school buildings. A board member asked about after‑school childcare programs; Donnarumo said he visits programs on a superintendent conference day to review emergency response expectations with staff, and that program leads and principals coordinate on drills and follow‑up. Regarding senior‑citizen club meetings held in a district building, he said a district security guard assigned to Jamaica Avenue is trained to administer CPR/AED, access cameras, report emergencies and use radio communications.

The board voted to circulate the districtwide safety plan to the community for a 30‑day comment period beginning Monday, July 6, with the intent of returning to the board on Aug. 17 for final approval after reviewing public feedback.

The presentation also noted procedural limits: building‑level safety plans and detailed operational protocols are kept confidential and are submitted to state and local law enforcement by Oct. 1 as required by New York State guidance. Community members were asked to submit feedback to the email provided by the presenter for consideration during the circulation period.

Next steps: the plan will be posted for public comment, the board will accept and review community input, and the board will consider the final plan at its August meeting.