Official: No Armed Guards But GN Schools Taking Every Step For Safety

The Great Neck School District works each day to ensure absolute safety for students, but there is no 100 percent guarantee that the kids are completely safe, according to a district security official Monday at a school board meeting.

While giving a security review at Great Neck North High School, district Security Supervisor Chris Tevlin was questioned about a possible worst case scenario like the recent Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in Newtown, Conn.

"That's the scariest part, the Adam Lanza scenario.," said Tevlin. "Someone armed with a weapon that comes to your school and your school is set up right and that happens."

According to Tevlin's report, the school district is taking every step necessary to avoid a similar tragedy from occurring in Great Neck — but not the use armed guards.

"I am personally against armed guards in schools, said Tevlin. "I believe the board has my full support with this. They feel similarly."

Institutionally, the Sandy Hook tragedy had a tremendous impact in Great Neck, according to district Superintendent Thomas Dolan.

Dolan said Tevlin has "gone at this" to make certain the district doesn't take any chances. "Nor will we be doing anything just for the sake of doing it," said Dolan.

Following the Newtown incident late last year, an immediate assessment was made across the Great Neck school district and the security timetable was greaty elevated, according to Tevlin.

"When you put your kid on the bus and you drop your child off you want to be sure your kid is going to be safe, and that's what we're here for," said Tevlin.

The school district currently employs 9 full-time security staff, 25 part-time security aids and 20 contract guards from U.S. Security Associates. The unarmed security staff performs tasks including traffic duties, lobby security, camera viewing and operations, safety plans and drills. 

All elementary locations as well as Parkville have guards assigned regularly, security is also provided to both middle schools and both high schools and Clover Drive in Cumberland with a single point of entry all district buildings except at North High School, where it is logistically difficult to administer, according to Tevlin.

Currently, 253 video cameras have been deployed in all district buildings focused on people entering and exiting, parking lots and on outside grounds.

"That's suited us so well so far and we are very happy with how we have moved forward with that," said Tevlin.

The cameras do not watch students, teachers or staff inside buildings, but may in the future, according to Tevlin. 

Recent cameras have been added at Parkville School.

"There's a lot of very young children up there and that's one of the reasons we had to put additional cameras up there," said Tevlin.

The school district has a good working relationship with police from Kings Point, Great Neck Estates, Lake Success and Nassau County's Third Precinct and does not hesitate when they call the police.

Tevlin said Nassau police will never have a Columbine-type incident were they show up at the school and they basically set up outside and wait.

"Those injured children will get lapped in the halls as they go after the gunman," said Tevlin.

Lock down drills, which teach children to find a safe corner of a classroom, furthest away from windows while being calmed by a teacher have become an "unfortunate reality," said Tevlin.

"I know when your kid comes home and if they are a certain age it affects them ... but its our responsibility as educators, as teachers, as security staff and as parents to make sure they understand why," Said Tevlin.