Calling for Emergency Alert Systems in Schools by Betsy Gotbaum
November 13th, 2007
Imagine this scenario: A gunman walks into a New York public school. What is the city’s plan of action? How do we alert students, faculty and parents as quickly as possible? What tools do we already have that will help us keep children safe?
It’s not hard to imagine. We’ve seen gunmen walk into schools in Colorado. And in Virginia. And most recently, an armed student tragically managed to wound several students and teachers in Cleveland. In light of these events, the New York public school system needs to take every step to protect school children. Parents and administrators need to have the ability to get in touch with school children at all times, and at a moment’s notice.
We have that ability. According to U.S. Cellular statistics, approximately 60 percent of teenagers own a cell phone. For many, text messaging is their preferred method of communication. And yet, cell phones have been banned by the Department of Education (DOE). If the majority of teenage students have cell phones, why aren’t we using them as a tool to protect students? Why has the New York City DOE banned this potentially lifesaving technology?
Across the nation, many school systems are using cell phones for emergency notification. Since last April’s tragic Virginia Tech shooting, high schools and colleges across the country have sent campus-wide text messages and emails to warn students of danger. Programs such as clearTXT and Connect-Ed have already been implemented at college campuses in Minnesota, Florida and New York. And Virginia Tech’s new system of emergency notification—called “VT Alerts”—was launched last July and currently has 18,000 subscribers.
In 2005, the DOE justified its enforcement of the cell phone ban by claiming phones were a distraction; that students used them to send text messages, cheat on tests, surf the web, and take photos. In response to the ban, parents from across New York City immediately expressed their dismay because, to them, the ability to have their children carry phones was a safety issue.
The recent near-tragedy at St. John’s University in Queens validated parents’ position. On Sept. 28, a student was apprehended on the university campus carrying a loaded rifle. School officials reacted quickly and ordered a campus-wide lockdown. Within a matter of minutes, they were able to inform—and protect—the 20,000 students, faculty, and personnel by deploying their new emergency notification system that included cell phone text messaging.
Emergency alert systems—via cell phone and email—could also help notify students and parents of health-related crises. On Oct. 14, a seventh-grade student who attended Intermediate School 211 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, died from the staph infection MRSA. MRSA, short for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, is responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than AIDS, according to new data. The strain resists antibiotics and penetrates the bloodstream, leading to fatal infections. Although the majority of fatal MRSA infections occur in hospitals, recent cases have involved students and have been spread through close proximity in school facilities like locker rooms.
After the tragic incident, city officials sent a letter home with IS 211 students explaining to parents the risk associated with the infection. However, some parents didn’t hear about the tragedy until they saw it on the news. An email alert could have let parents know in a more timely and effective manner.
Across the city, Community Education Councils (CECs) have passed resolutions opposing the mayor’s ban on cell phones—some as many as two or three times. This isn’t an issue that is going to disappear any time soon. If anything, cell phones have ceased to be a luxury item and are becoming increasingly integrated as a life-tool for parents and children. The administration should recognize this and embrace technology in our schools in a way that does not impede learning.
We all have reservations about technology in schools. None of us wants kids to disrupt class with their cell phones. But, frankly, it is irresponsible to deny the potential value and effectiveness of cell phones in emergency situations.
Betsy Gotbaum (D) is the public advocate of New York City.
It’s not hard to imagine. We’ve seen gunmen walk into schools in Colorado. And in Virginia. And most recently, an armed student tragically managed to wound several students and teachers in Cleveland. In light of these events, the New York public school system needs to take every step to protect school children. Parents and administrators need to have the ability to get in touch with school children at all times, and at a moment’s notice.
We have that ability. According to U.S. Cellular statistics, approximately 60 percent of teenagers own a cell phone. For many, text messaging is their preferred method of communication. And yet, cell phones have been banned by the Department of Education (DOE). If the majority of teenage students have cell phones, why aren’t we using them as a tool to protect students? Why has the New York City DOE banned this potentially lifesaving technology?
Across the nation, many school systems are using cell phones for emergency notification. Since last April’s tragic Virginia Tech shooting, high schools and colleges across the country have sent campus-wide text messages and emails to warn students of danger. Programs such as clearTXT and Connect-Ed have already been implemented at college campuses in Minnesota, Florida and New York. And Virginia Tech’s new system of emergency notification—called “VT Alerts”—was launched last July and currently has 18,000 subscribers.
In 2005, the DOE justified its enforcement of the cell phone ban by claiming phones were a distraction; that students used them to send text messages, cheat on tests, surf the web, and take photos. In response to the ban, parents from across New York City immediately expressed their dismay because, to them, the ability to have their children carry phones was a safety issue.
The recent near-tragedy at St. John’s University in Queens validated parents’ position. On Sept. 28, a student was apprehended on the university campus carrying a loaded rifle. School officials reacted quickly and ordered a campus-wide lockdown. Within a matter of minutes, they were able to inform—and protect—the 20,000 students, faculty, and personnel by deploying their new emergency notification system that included cell phone text messaging.
Emergency alert systems—via cell phone and email—could also help notify students and parents of health-related crises. On Oct. 14, a seventh-grade student who attended Intermediate School 211 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, died from the staph infection MRSA. MRSA, short for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, is responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than AIDS, according to new data. The strain resists antibiotics and penetrates the bloodstream, leading to fatal infections. Although the majority of fatal MRSA infections occur in hospitals, recent cases have involved students and have been spread through close proximity in school facilities like locker rooms.
After the tragic incident, city officials sent a letter home with IS 211 students explaining to parents the risk associated with the infection. However, some parents didn’t hear about the tragedy until they saw it on the news. An email alert could have let parents know in a more timely and effective manner.
Across the city, Community Education Councils (CECs) have passed resolutions opposing the mayor’s ban on cell phones—some as many as two or three times. This isn’t an issue that is going to disappear any time soon. If anything, cell phones have ceased to be a luxury item and are becoming increasingly integrated as a life-tool for parents and children. The administration should recognize this and embrace technology in our schools in a way that does not impede learning.
We all have reservations about technology in schools. None of us wants kids to disrupt class with their cell phones. But, frankly, it is irresponsible to deny the potential value and effectiveness of cell phones in emergency situations.
Betsy Gotbaum (D) is the public advocate of New York City.
