Dear Ramsey and Saddle River Communities:
With the recent national and local news, there continues to be concern and tension across the country in regards to school violence. The physical and emotional safety of your children has always been and will continue to be our primary focus. For this reason, we have a comprehensive security plan in place that was developed together with the Ramsey Police Department. This security plan includes long standing safety protocols at each of our buildings that are regularly reviewed for their effectiveness. The following includes locked entries, the new visitor vestibule at the high school, a district security officer, greeters, and communication vehicles such as Share911 and radios with direct access to police.
Safety drills are and will continue to be conducted with our students to exercise our procedures. As mandated by the state of New Jersey, each month every school conducts at least one fire drill and one school safety drill. These include active shooter drills, lockdowns, evacuations, and bomb threats. These are very often done in tandem with the Police Department. I recently met with the Chief of Police, representatives from the police department and the town, and Mr. Michael Fanning (our Head of Security) to discuss the latest events. Starting tomorrow there will be a police presence at the start of school, lunch-time, dismissal, and Main Street during RHS lunchtime. I am truly appreciative for the support of the Ramsey Police Department.
Following the Sandy Hook tragedy of 2012, the District made significant improvements to our school safety procedures. While in many ways the District has been ahead in certain areas of school safety, we realize we can not be complacent. Every year we review the security plan in consultation with the police. This fall the District’s Security Committee, led by Mr. Michael Fanning and Mr. Tom O’Hern, has been meeting with each of the schools, looking at ways we can improve our school security. Once complete, they will be sharing their recommendations with the Board of Education.
This is a very anxious time for everyone. In collaborative spirit, I ask you to keep the lines of communication open. If your child needs someone to talk to, please contact your school. We have outstanding staff in place. Please notify the school or law enforcement regarding any matter you believe may impact the safety of our students. Please discuss with your children the importance of not adding credence to rumors, but rather, if they hear something, to discuss it with you, their school administrator, a faculty member, or the police.
Lastly, events like last week are unsettling for everyone, most especially for children. I share with you the grief that we are feeling. Please do not shy away from discussing this incident with your children while reassuring them that they are safe. Professionals advise the following:
- Don’t project your fears onto your children
- Limit access to the repetitious news cycle
- Being honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle
- Listening to kids’ fears and concerns
- Reassuring kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things
- Rebuilding and reaffirming attachments and relationships
If you have specific recommendations that you would like the Security Committee to consider, please feel free to email me directly. As I mentioned earlier, the committee is still doing its work, and I would be more than happy to share your ideas.
Matthew Murphy, Ed. D.
Superintendent
Ramsey Public Schools
