Superintendent Sends out Letter on School Safety

With concern about school safety being expressed throughout the nation and on Long Island, Massapequa Superintendent Charles Sulc sent a letter home to parents Monday discussing issues related to the Newtown tragedy.

"The Massapequa School community joins the nation in sending our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the horrific events that took place last week in Newtown, CT," Sulc said in the letter. "Words cannot adequately express our sympathy or make sense of this tragedy."

The superintendent then outlined steps that the district has taken in the aftermath of the shootings.

"Our crisis intervention team has mobilized and taken time since Friday to prepare for school this week," he said. He added that the school's mental health professionals  asked parents to contact the school if they feel a student needs to talk to a psychologist or social worker.

Sulc also discussed security in Masapequa schools.

"The district maintains a comprehensive emergency management plan, whose focus is safety and security. It includes monitored school entrances and security personnel assigned to each school," he said adding,  "Our security team will be reviewing our processes and protocols with staff at each school to ensure consistency and conformity."

Also Monday, parents at sent a letter out to parents reminding them of the school's security plan and adding a new procedure.

The school announced that because there is no adult supervision in the main lobby until 8 a.m., the main lobby door and main hallway door will stay locked until supervision is in place. Those who need to go into take care of school business prior to 8 a.m. will have to ring a buzzer and wait for office staff. Parents were told to not to drop their children off before 8 a.m. if they have an activity that starts at that time.