The Public Opinion Soapbox

Noel · Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 49

James Buchanan High School sent home a paper about a security alert for Dec 4 Tuesday 2007. Anybody heard how/why the alert came about? While I do appreciate being informed it just makes me uneasy.

Irish1 · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Montgomery Township

Now maybe the school board will try to get the resource officer hired. I think it is critical in this day and age to have such a position in both the middle school and the high school.
Noel I can understand that you may feel uneasy. It sounds as though from the notice that they have a very good plan in place, and that they are not releasing any more information so as to not interfere w/ the investigation.
As a parent and taxpayer I am very irritated at the disruptions,waste of money, and more importantly the potential safety risk. these losers are causing

walrus1 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 63

What good is a recource officer in these stiuations? Thats like people who say we need one in case of terrorism, or the fact you have have the office buzz you in will keep someone with a gun from entering a GLASS door.

This is either WAY over blown, OR there is a real and present danger. We have never had this reaction before to a rumor so is it really wise to send your students that day? And what is it? couldn't the person just wait until Wednesday? All this did was alert the person so he can make other plans, if it is even real. I guess there is one other option for this reaction, the administrators want a resource officer and this way they can tell the taxpayer it is needed.

Seems stupid, and what is with the no cell phones? Any time there is a problem TSD tries to stop the use of cell phones. In past incidences around the country the use of cell phones was important. If no one had a cell phone and a person or group took over the office who is gonna call the authorities?

metal detectors, police teams roaming the building, no way to keep in contact with parents, the administrators not sharing ANY info with parents.... sounds like a lot of children will be sick.

Irish1 · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Montgomery Township

What good is a resource officer(RO)? You may have answered your question already, the RO would be the one to call for help.
A RO officer is:
A trained professionel peace officer.
A trained counselor.
A presence in the building.
A person that some students would feel more comfortable talking too about certian situations rather than a faculty or administrater.
WAY over blown? Give me a break every threat is real and to me it looks as though the TSD along w/ the PSP, FCSO, and the MPD have a plan, and feel comfortable sending my child to school that day.
And do you really think that the TSD, PSP, FCSO,MPD dreamed this up as a charade to convince us they need a resource officer.
Some of the kids had it figured out at the end of school on Thursday they had to change bathrooms (do you remember the last threat? well they are still only allowed to use one bathroom and have to sign in) and there was a police presence Thursday, the kids talked about it Thursday and Friday, maybe you don't talk w/ your kids to find out what they think.
What did the kids do 5 or 6 years ago before everyone had a cell phone I would like to see them banned completely from the schools (just another disruption).
I am fed up with these disruptions and my children and all of there friends are as well. I think a RO would stop a lot of these disruptions It seems to work in Chambersburg they have an RO in the High, JR., & Middle schools and I don't recall to many threats in CASD.

walrus1 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 63

How is this threat different then the 30 others already this year? Maybe second hand gossip is fine for you to blindly trust this administration but some of us thinking parents have already been through the middle school debacle and the St Thomas mold cover up. They've proven on numerous occasions not to have the best interest of the children in mind. As a parent I want to make the decision concerning my child's well being, not blindly accepting the administrations word, they've lied one too many times.

As far as wanting our school like Chambersburg.... you mean the school district that is failing the PSSAs and on the verge of being taken over by the state..... yeah thats a good idea! They have more fights and racial problems in a week then TSD has all year.

As for the cell phones, I am not the one that allows them in the school and then tries to stop there use only when there is a problem. I don't have a problem with banning them, but if you are going to allow them in school, the ONLY time I think it could be a good idea is during an emergency.

What children gossip about in school and what they bring home isn't always 100% accurate. I know what they think happened, but I would like to hear the full story from a person of authority. Some parents like to just ship their children off to school and allow someone else to decide what is in their best interest, others like to be informed.

Irish1 · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Montgomery Township

I don't recall the 30 other security threats. I do not blindly trust this administration. I happen to agree with the way they are handling this current security risk.
Have I always agreed with decisions made by the school administration and the school board? NO!
Have I been able to meet with and voice my opinion? Yes!
Has the Admin and Board learned from decisions of the past? I think they have.
I to want my child to be safe, but I know that I can not be on the school board, the superintendent, the principal, the town councilman, the township supervisor, the fire chief and the police chief all at one time.
I did not say I wanted a school district like Chambersburg, what I said was they have a resource officer in the Sr.,Jr., and Middle school and they don't seem to have these bomb security issues that we have, and I am only counting on what I hear or don't hear in the local media.
As far as fights and racial problems I do recall several a while ago but I have not heard of many recently again through the local media, maybe you know more about unreported incidents in the CASD. Chambersburg also has a higher percentage of minorities compared to TSD, but I know ther are many racist in the TSD.
My understanding of cell phones in school "cell phones must be stored in a concealed location with the power off during the hours of 7:30-3:30" you see the school does not just try to stop cell phone use when there is a problem but it is a policy.
As far as CASD being taken over by the state do you have a reference or a source that I can check, I don't recall reading or seeing any headlines claiming that the CASD was being taken over by the State Board of Education.
Franklin County is growing and changing and every thing has to grow and change with it.
I did not get any of my information regarding this issue through second hand gossip, I read the notice sent home, I talked w/ my children. From the information I have the professionals are taking this threat serious and taking appropriate steps to insure the safety of the students. Do you really think that the PSP would allow the school to open if it was not safe?

Noel · Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 49

I truely hope they find out who is behind these threats and charge them as an adult (since it's at the high school) or at least expel them from the school district. They need to be taught this is no joke and is causing worry amoung students, teachers and staff and the parents not to mention the cost involved. We don't need this nonsense.