Please note that this is a recommended budget only and may change as a result of debate and discussion at the October 27th School Committee meeting. A Special Town Meeting in January will provide an opportunity for the School Department to submit a warrant article requesting funds to enhance school security with the purchase of specialized equipment. As I have indicated to the School Committee, I have been somewhat overwhelmed with the expansiveness and expense of some of the proposals I have received. It appears at this point that I will recommend the funding of a warrant article that will provide for the purchase of some equipment to resolve immediate needs and to fund a comprehensive study to determine long term needs. At the High School alone, one security company recommended 26 cameras on site, which would be connected to the Police Department for viewing at this location.
School security is critical, complex and costly.
An independent consultant is needed to recommend equipment that cost effectively meets the needs of our school community. I will provide more information on this topic as the warrant article is developed. Other non-funding warrant articles may be submitted, including one supported by our student council, which stipulates fines for smoking at the High School. The architects selected by the designer selection committee for the renovation and addition to the Elementary School are Strekalovsky and Hoit of Hingham. A negotiations meeting with the Permanent School Building Committee, School Committee and Selectmen took place on October 18th.