Bell: Delaware Valley is secure

DAVID HULSE

Posted 2/28/18

WESTFALL, PA — Following on the Valentine’s Day school massacre in Florida, Dr. John Bell emphasized campus security at Delaware Valley district schools at the school board’s …

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Bell: Delaware Valley is secure

TRR photo by David Hulse

When Delaware Valley (DV) senior Jonathan Langberg was looking for an Eagle Scout project, he happened onto the story of the Good Shepherd Academy in Cameroon, West Africa. It was founded with aims to create economic sustainability, protect AIDS orphans and other children from human trafficking and other exploitation, and promote gender equality. The project was also local, the academy having been founded by the Good Shepherd Sustainable Learning Foundation of Milford, PA. Langberg, who comes from musical roots, decided to help create a band for the academy. He sought out used instruments, found 33, had them repaired with the help of the Milford Music Store “at a ridiculous discount,” (even had the heads of a bass drum stenciled with academy name), organized a benefit concert raising $800 for accessories to keep the instruments working, found lesson books and sheet music, boxed it all up and drove it to Maryland for shipment to Africa. And oh, he raised another $1,500 to pay a teacher.

Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2018 1:04 pm

DAVID HULSE

WESTFALL, PA — Following on the Valentine’s Day school massacre in Florida, Dr. John Bell emphasized campus security at Delaware Valley district schools at the school board’s February 15 meeting.

Board president Jack O’Leary began the monthly meeting with a moment of silence for the recently passed mother of one of the staff and “all the people affected by yesterday’s shootings in Florida.”

After a series of student presentations, Bell’s monthly report was the first real discussion item. The superintendent noted the letter he posted (pa01001022.schoolwires.net) on the district website that morning, which several people individually said they found reassuring.

Most of his comments to the board involved security efforts. The district’s comprehensive safety plan contains strategies that remain undisclosed, but he said the plan is updated each year. In part it includes plans for incident command, triage, parent re-unification, entry and exit controls, and remote location surveillance.

Additionally, he listed:

All building doors are locked, separated from the buildings by safety vestibules,
Armed officers are at each building,
DV replaced all its video cameras last year, some 400 internally and externally,
Each classroom has a “GO Kit” with supplies and a crisis flip card manual for the teacher,
Increased district staff and student emergency training,
Metal detecting wands are used randomly,
A bullying tip-line is in place and will be upgraded,
Trauma treatment bags are available for EMS responders.

Bell said planning gets updated with each new incident. “We try to learn from the press conferences… I’m proud of what we do, but we can always do more. It’s a different world.”

“Since Columbine, this board has been working on safety every year,” said senior board member John Wroblewski.

Several parents expressed confidence and support of the district’s efforts. O’Leary was one of them. “I go to work every day and place the kids in Dr. Bell’s care. I don’t worry about them. If something happens it won’t be because of something we didn’t do.”

If gun control was on anyone’s mind, the word “gun” was not mentioned at any time during the wide ranging discussion.