Local pol introduces bill to improve schools’ emergency notification system
Councilmember Justin Brannan earlier this month introduced a bill that would improve the emergency notification system currently in place in city schools as part of a 10-bill package on improving school security.
“This is 2018, and parents and guardians should know what is happening at their child’s school in real-time,” said the pol, who stressed that, currently, if and when there is a serious incident in or near a school that requires a lock-down or large police response, parents must rely solely on social media, and other unconfirmed and oftentimes unfounded reports.
Brannan cited a recent incident in his district in which, in December 2017, reports of a student with a gun at Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge ultimately turned out to be unfounded, and parents were not officially notified by the Department of Education (DOE) until 6 p.m. that evening.