security

Greater Lawrence Tech Receives $80,000 School Safety Grant

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Greater Lawrence Technical School
Superintendent John Lavoie
57 River Rd, Andover,
MA 01810

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Greater Lawrence Tech Receives $80,000 School Safety Grant

LAWRENCE — Students, staff and faculty will soon benefit from new security equipment at Greater Lawrence Tech, thanks to a grant from the Baker-Polito administration.

Greater Lawrence Tech is among fourteen regional vocational technical, agricultural and independent schools who were allocated funding, receiving $80,000 from the state. The Baker-Polito Administration awarded $7.2 million in grants to more than 140 Massachusetts schools this October in an effort to support school security initiatives.

“Security is of the utmost importance to all of us here at GLTS, and we’re incredibly thankful the Baker-Polito Administration recognized our need for this funding,” Superintendent John Lavoie said. “As new best practices, equipment, procedures and mechanisms are continually developed to bolster school security, we are always working to revise and improve upon the safety protocol and systems we have in place.”

The funding at Greater Lawrence Tech will allow the school to purchase and install electronic safety systems for all outside doors this school year, as well as an outdoor Public Address (PA) system that will facilitate communication between school officials inside the facility and people on the fields of the campus. The school will additionally install external network cameras as a result of the award.

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Essex Tech Receives $75,000 Safer Schools and Communities Grant for Security Upgrades

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Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School
Dr. Heidi T. Riccio, Superintendent
565 Maple Street
Hathorne, MA 01937

For Immediate Release

Friday, July 12, 2019

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Essex Tech Receives $75,000 Safer Schools and Communities Grant for Security Upgrades

Essex Tech received a $75,000 Safer Schools and Communities Local Equipment and Technology grant today to improve safety and security on campus. (Courtesy Photo)

DANVERS — Superintendent Heidi Riccio is pleased to announce that Essex Tech received a $75,000 Safer Schools and Communities Local Equipment and Technology grant today to improve safety and security on campus.

Administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research, Essex Tech received the award allocation to address critical infrastructure concerns and implement new equipment and technology to make its facilities more secure.

Schools that applied to the grant were required to have a Multi-Hazard School Emergency Threat Assessment and Response Plan that was developed in collaboration with their municipality.

“I want to thank Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha, Police Chief Patrick Ambrose and Fire Chief Robert Pyburn for working with us and supporting our endeavor to improve the safety of students, faculty and staff at Essex Tech,” Superintendent Riccio said. “This funding will allow us to make critical improvement to our security systems, so we’re extremely grateful to the Baker-Polito administration for recognizing our need.”

With the grant funding, Essex Tech will be able to make several improvements to its north and south campuses. (The south campus encompasses the five original Essex Aggie buildings, whereas the north campus features 24 new buildings.)

  • Camera upgrades to the north and south campuses for mobile capabilities. South campus buildings will receive cameras inside and out, while buildings on the north campus will have older cameras replaced so that they are able to be accessed through mobile devices and added to high trafficked areas.
  • Electronic door keypad system for south campus. This will put the south campus in line with the north campus security protocols, which limits access to buildings through an electronic keypad system.
  • Mobile visitor management system for north campus. This will be installed at the school’s main entrance and will require visitors to sign in before the door is unlocked.
  • School safety training. A group of administrators, faculty and staff, including Essex Tech’s School Resource Officer, will attend a School Safety Advocacy Council training in the fall.

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Oyster River School Renovation Projects Feature Safety Improvements

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Oyster River Cooperative School District
SAU No. 5
Superintendent James Morse
36 Coe Drive
Durham, NH 03824

For Immediate Release

Monday, April 1, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Oyster River School Renovation Projects Feature Safety Improvements and Enhanced Classroom Space

DURHAM – Superintendent James Morse is pleased to share that Oyster River Cooperative School District has completed a building project at Mast Way Elementary, and began improvement work at Moharimet Elementary School today.

Mast Way Elementary School Building Project

In Spring 2018, construction began on an addition and renovation at Mast Way Elementary. The project included a major security upgrade in the form of a vestibule in the entryway of the building, creating better visibility for office staff greeting visitors.  The vestibule also has double locking doors.

To better accommodate an increased student population, Mast Way also added three new classrooms and a dedicated music room. Since the 2015 to 2016 school year, the student population at Mast Way Elementary has risen by 82 students. For years, music classes had been held on the stage in the auditorium of the school, which was never intended to be used as classroom space.

The original Mast Way Elementary School Building was constructed in 1960, and additions were previously completed in 1967 and 1994. 

“Vestibules are key safety features for modern schools, and it has been reassuring for staff, parents and students alike to know that our school is more secure with this new entrance,” said Mast Way Principal Carrie Vaich. “We were also in significant need of new classroom space, and with these new rooms our teachers are able to implement their lessons as intended and better serve their students.”

The main office was also expanded and conference rooms were added during the renovation.

Construction on the project was completed in two stages. The classrooms were completed in November 2018 and the construction on the expanded office finished in January 2019.

The New Hampshire Department of Education provided $547,567 in funding to assist the district in the renovation and addition project, which cost approximately $1.3 million.

Moharimet Elementary School Building Project 

Construction on a renovation project at Moharimet Elementary School began on Monday, April 1, and is projected to be complete at the beginning of the upcoming school year.

Once work is done, Moharimet will be equipped with a similar vestibule at the entrance of the school, which will allow staff to better control entry and make the building significantly safer. Today, the entryway to the school opens into a main hallway. A new conference room and principal’s office will also be built as part of the renovation.

Following the renovation, visitors to the school will also pass by the principal’s office first before reaching a hallway, adding another level of safety to the building.

The project will also feature new landscaping, which will honor and represent the history and culture behind the school’s name. Moharimet was a Sagamore (Chief) in the Durham area approximately 400 years ago, and the hill to the east of the school is also known as Moharimet Hill.

The school will be working in coming months with the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki people to discuss indigenous plantings, words and symbols of the Pennacook Abenaki to incorporate into concrete work and landscaping.

“This landscaping will honor the Pennacook Abenaki, and the historic tribe from which our school gets its name from,” Moharimet Principal David Goldsmith said. “It’s important and exciting for us to have this opportunity to learn about the history and present day Native American ties to this region and our school.”

The project was approved as part of Oyster River Cooperative School District’s 2019-2020 budget, and also received $100,000 in funding from the New Hampshire Department of Education– Public School and Infrastructure Funds. The project has a budget of $855,000 including the funds from the state.

Stephen Blatt Architects and Bauen Corporation, a construction management company, were selected by the district to work on both the Mast Way and Moharimet Elementary School projects.

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*Joint Release* West Newbury, Merrimac, Groveland Police Address Nationwide Clown Scare

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Friday, Oct. 7, 2016

For Immediate Release

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

*Joint Release* West Newbury, Merrimac, Groveland Police Address Nationwide Clown Scare

WEST NEWBURY — West Newbury Chief Art Reed, Merrimac Chief Eric Shears and Groveland Deputy Police Chief Jeffrey Gillen are coming together to reassure the community that their police departments are actively monitoring the clown scare tactic currently sweeping the nation.

In August, parents in South Carolina were alarmed after a group of people dressed as clowns were reported as trying to lure children into the woods. Since then, numerous sightings of individuals in clown face paint and outfits, often times wielding weapons or acting suspicious, have been reported throughout the country.

Last week, a nationwide threat was made over Twitter targeting schools by a clown-related group. Although the threat has passed, police are actively monitoring any suspicious related activity in and around the Pentucket Regional School District. On Tuesday night, a Merrimack College dormitory in North Andover was evacuated after someone reported seeing an individual, dressed as a clown and carrying a weapon.

Similar incidents have been reported in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Nova Scotia, Canada.

Though no specific threat was made to the Pentucket Regional School District, Groveland and West Newbury police officers were stationed at all schools for early dismissal today.

“We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” Deputy Gillen said. “Parents should rest assured that we are monitoring the activity on social media and feel free to contact the department with concerns.”

“Any student, staff member, or resident who sees or hears of any suspicious activity regarding clowns should report it immediately,” Chief Reed said. “While there have not been any direct threats to the Pentucket Regional community, we do not tolerate this kind of harmful behavior.”

“Although it is not illegal to dress up as or impersonate a clown, it is considered destructive and reckless due to the climate currently surrounding this issue,” Chief Shears said. “With Halloween approaching, we encourage everyone to refrain from using this costume, as it may insight fear throughout the community.”

Any residents with questions or concerns should contact their local police department. West Newbury Police at 978-363-1213, Merrimac Police at 978-346-8321, or Groveland Police at 978-521-1212.

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