Syosset BOE holds hearing on new district safety plan

From page 1 each of our seven elementary schools. Social workers will be able to provide the necessary training to support our schools in strategies and programs,” Escobar said.

Syosset Board of Education President Carol Cheng reiterated her comments from the June meeting on the proposal: “It’s such a great thing to see that every school in our district will have a social worker. This will be a tremendous asset for our students and will enhance our social emotional learning program. Thank you to Dr. Patricia Rufo and the staff for helping build that into our schools budget,” she said.

Syosset’s District Wide Schools Safety committee met in May to review the plan, which was updated to include strategies to improve procedures for reunification in case of an emergency.

“To improve upon reunification planning we held a tabletop exercise at Harry B. Thompson Middle School with staff from Buildings & Grounds along with the officers in our schools’ security staff. Additionally our Central Office administrative team including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Rogers and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Theresa Curry met the new commander of Nassau County’s 2nd Precinct. We all met at Syosset High School, along with Principal Durante, and gave the new commander a tour of SHS,” Escobar said.

He told the board that the school district’s dialogues with the 2nd precinct have been invaluable “as we continue to improve our security measures.”

Assistant Superintendent Escobar shared that another of the goals has been training of students and staff on Conflict Resolution strategies and Peer

Mediation programs.

During the hearing Woodbury resident Parisa Osmanovic told the board she has children ages 9, 6, 5 and 1 and the family moved to Syosset CSD because of the community’s commitment to multiculturalism and diversity. She thanked the school board for allowing the public to ask questions about the policy but said there is a concern for the safety of schoolchildren. She stated that an extracurricular sports event held by the Syosset Basketball League was in violation of fire safety code and “organizational negligence” with parents and coaches “publicly cursing at children.”

Osmanovic claimed that children were bleeding and crying with no stoppage of the event by referees, coaches, parents or organizers. She was concerned about bullying occurring during extracurricular, independent activity which is not affiliated with Syosset

Schools.

The specific concern Osmanovic raised was that Syosset CSD does not require event organizers, coaches or administrators to undergo a background check or a very strict permitting process prior to the school district venues being rented and/or utilized.

The issue was further portrayed as a “lack of accountability” that results in bullying, without there being policies in place to ensure (the organizations) adhere to the Syosset district standards while operating in the schools’ facilities.

Osmanovic urged the Syosset Board of Education to revisit the district’s policy for facilities’ use, rental and permitting of events by extracurricular organizations, “to ensure the safety of our children.”

There was no response given by the board or administration to her concerns during the hearing.