School Safety Discussed At Madison Superintendent Coffee Meeting

MADISON, NJ — A virtual Madison Superintendent Coffee meeting was held on the eve of the first day of summer. The meeting included updates on Covid-19 and a presentation on future school safety.

The Superintendent of Madison Public Schools, Mark Schwarz, began the discussion by stating that key details pertaining to school security must be kept confidential, so the presentation would only cover broad security plans.

"Any information that we give could technically give information to someone who might be interested in causing harm and we don't want to give anyone who is trying to understand where our vulnerabilities might be and where our strengths might be," Schwarz said.

The discussed plan for any suspicious activity is as follows:

• All potential immediate threats necessitate a 911 call.
• Contact the school if you have any non-emergency general concerns.
• Use the RSVP-3 App from the App Store or Google Play to report any concerning behaviors anonymously.

"School security is not something that is taken lightly by the Department of Education, by our law enforcement, by our school district, or by the state in any way shape or form. We have a variety of protocols that we have to comply with, with respect to the law," Schwarz said.

Madison Chief of Police John Micia joined Superintendent Coffee and discussed some important aspects of the school resource officer (SRO) program.

According to Micia, the main focus of the program is on officers becoming a part of the school community, not disciplining students.

The goal is to build relationships with students while also providing onsite security oversight and expertise, acting as a liaison between the school district, families and law enforcement, and implementing student safety education.

"We work directly with the Project Community Pride, which is another great resource that helps children who are having difficulties in school, with their classes and families," Micia said.

The SRO program also teaches students about internet safety and Halloween safety. Sgt. Julian Morales discussed the key points of Madison Police Department services, which include serving as a liaison to the Hispanic and Latino communities, making regular visits to ESL students and continuing the DARE program.

"I try to provide a sense of a familiar figure in the school so that if they have any issues at home or at school they can always reach out to us. I'm trying to explain that the police are here to help," Morales said.

According to Schwarz, the Madison School District operates as a multi-tiered support system.

• Tier 1 – Promote everyone's well-being, foster positive culture in all schools, and assess the positive impact of schools through climate surveys and emotional regulation programs (K-5).
• Tier 2 – Identify and support individuals who are having difficulty, screening student devices, guidance counselors, and data systems to monitor student progress and attendance.
• Tier 3 – Intervene intensely when an individual appears to be on a path to violence, as well as conduct individual risk assessments and provide in-school clinical counseling services.

If parents have specific concerns about school security, they are encouraged to contact Superintendent Schwarz at (973) 593-3100.