Resident stirs up security discussion with Swampscott school board

SWAMPSCOTT – Following the first day of school on Wednesday, School Committee members gave their assurances that every building is completely safe. However, resident Richard Feinberg was not so sure.”I hope that one of the top priorities will be to make our schools safe, so that what happened in Connecticut will not happen here,” he said.Feinberg, who has a grandson at Clarke Elementary, reminded the committee that $100,000 was allocated at the last Town Meeting for security upgrades, repairs and installations.Chairman Ted Delano answered, saying that the high school is under the watch of Detective Rose Cheever, who currently serves as the school resource officer.”But think of the doors, Teddy,” said Feinberg.Delano pointed out that school safety has noticeably improved from “a couple years ago.” However, he added that school employees can never let their guard down, particularly when it comes to keeping students safe.”The tighter the ship, the better the ship,” he said.Superintendent Pamela Angelakis explained that there are cameras at each elementary school coupled with strict rules about entering any of the buildings.She added that even propping doors open is no longer permitted.”We’ve also trained the students not to open the doors,” said Angelakis. “We’re on it.””Mr. Feinberg, I will let you know you were under surveillance this morning reading the newspaper in front of the Clarke School,” said Delano.However, Feinberg had additional concerns regarding ample security at a proposed district-wide elementary school, in which the students at the three current elementary schools would be merged into one building.”Top of the line security would be in there,” said Angelakis.The committee will present the idea at the next Town Meeting on Oct. 6.”You guys have got to sell it or it won’t pass,” said Feinberg. “It’s a tough fight, but you’ve got to make your case.”Committee member Suzanne Wright shared Feinberg’s concerns.”If this doesn’t happen, we are facing some really ugly budget choices down the line,” she said.