Poughkeepsie School District’s Efforts to Keep Students Safe
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Two weeks ago, a threat was made to Poughkeepsie High School by a former student. The school went into a lockdown, with a perimeter lockout enforced in all other buildings. It took Poughkeepsie Police only 20 minutes to put the individual into custody and remove the threat. According to Superintendent Kathleen Farrell, the close relationship between the school’s administration and the Poughkeepsie City Police is the driving factor in keeping their students safe.
Using the installation of metal detectors in its schools, the Poughkeepsie School district works day in and day out to be prepared in any situation. According to Farrell, the district drills regularly to ensure that both students and staff are on the same page in the event of an emergency. Yet above all, it is the effort that the administration and the city police make to collaborate as one working unit that really keeps students safe.
“We are very fortunate to have a good working relationship with the city police. It is essential that we work together, share information, and share best practices. We always as a school district follow the lead and advice of our law enforcement officers,” said Farrell. According to Farrell, there is a rotating staff of officers that make a presence on school grounds to ensure safety.
Even further, a program called Cocoa with Cops was implemented in the elementary and middle schools to help familiarize the officers to students, beginning at a young age. Officers visit classrooms, speak with students, and answer any questions they may have. Farrell says this program is particularly productive because it allows the students to speak with officers, not in response to an event, but just because they are there.
Lieutenant Melvin Clauson, who has served Poughkeepsie City Police for over 28 years, also values the importance of these programs. “They keep the community close and help us to be as transparent as possible with what’s going on. The more we can share and receive information, the safer we can keep our students. Building relationships with kids early just helps those relationships grow in the future,” said Clauson.
There are no armed personnel on campus, yet Clauson says Poughkeepsie is unique due to the police station’s close proximity to the schools. “It would never be more than 30 or 40 seconds before someone was there to help,” he said.
Superintendent Farrell says the school will continue to work on being excessively prepared in the event that a new threat is made. Building relationships between law enforcement, students, and the community remains a priority in keeping the school district safe for years to come.
