BMS administrators circled around all pods to discuss the issue of keeping the school protected in case of threats or gun violence on Feb. 28.

The meeting came a day after Staples went into ¨shelter in place,¨ and were then dismissed early at 1:15 p.m. 

The purpose of these conversations was, according to Dr. Rosen, to tell students what happened at Staples, and remind students of the safety features at BMS and the role they play in keeping each other safe.

He detailed how on all ground level windows and doors, there is a transparent protective film that prevents anyone from breaking the windows and getting in. All external doors are locked all day long. The only way to get in is to pass through two locked doors by checking in at the main office. There is a lockdown system in place that alerts the entire town, including the police department. We do not carry backpacks in this school as a security measure. When outdoors, your teachers carry walkie-talkies, and are constantly watching the environment.

Additionally, an important aspect of the discussion was to let the students know what part they can play in keeping the school community safe.

¨You have the power and responsibility to keep each other safe,¨ said Mrs. Denise Emmerthal, assistant vice-principal. She proceeded to go over numerous safety precautions that students should take every day, such as closing any open doors in the building, not letting people inside the school who have not gone through the main office, and reporting anything that causes worry to a parent or administrator.

¨Always be sensitive and don’t cause upset to people around you. If someone is isolated, reach out to them. If you see someone who is feeling angry or sad, share it with an adult,¨ Mrs. Emmerthal said.

The administrators then gave students the opportunity to ask questions. The issue of arming teachers was one commonly brought up by students.

Dr. Rosen expressed opposition to this proposal. ¨There is no attempt or plan whatsoever to bring guns into this school. It is not supported by our administration, or by me,¨ he said.

He did, however, support a proposal of having a security guard working part time at Bedford, an armed official meant to protect school security.

Eighth grade students experienced a variety of reactions to the meeting, and according to interviews most were comforted by the safety precautions that were discussed.

¨The one thing I took from the meeting is that we should feel safe at Bedford because of the various security measures to protect us,¨ said Maxwell Tanksley.

¨I think it’s smart to have a security guard. If there’s any situation, we would have someone who would protect us, and the school seems safer if that person is an armed and trained police officer,¨ said George Engels.

But Johann Kobetitsch disagreed. ¨I feel like they’re right to get more security for the building, but are they pushing it too far? If you have guns in school, you´re taking a friendly environment and making it unsafe,¨ he said.

But some students didn’t feel reassured by this discussion and felt that there was a lot more that needed to be reviewed before the school was  fully prepared in the case of an emergency.

¨A lot of it was more about what we already have than actual safety and procedures. The distance between Bedford and Staples doesn’t guarantee security,¨ said Elena Lim, a student at Bedford.

Conversations about the issue of Bedford safety expanded beyond the morning meeting. Some teachers discussed with their students what their job is in keeping the school secure.

¨If you hear or see something that is out of the ordinary, you need to tell someone about it. In this day and age, all you need to do is say to one of us, ´This feels weird to me.´ The best line of defense is always going to be the community,¨ Ms. Alexandra McHale, a language arts teacher in the 8th grade green pod, told her class.

Dr. Rosen also emphasized the need for students to collaborate with the administration in protecting Bedford´s safety. ¨The best possible security is when the entire community takes care of one another. We alone cannot do this. We need you to partner with us. That is how we keep each other safe,¨ said Dr. Rosen.