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The Haverhill School Committee’s Policy Subcommittee will review procedures after a parent complained about communication after an incident with his daughter in sixth grade and a car at a school crosswalk.
Stephen Costa thanked Caleb Dustin Hunking School Principal Timothy Betty for his work, but charged some staff responsible for traffic safety were lost when the budget was trimmed by $11 million.
“I rushed out of my office at my hockey rink in Saugus, Mass., and quickly headed back toward Haverhill. Shortly after that, I received a telephone call from my son indicating my daughter was okay. The school principal, School Resource Officer Ms. Privitera and the school nurse arrived at the home to make sure of it,” he said. “The troubling part to me is the protocols and procedures and the ‘lack of staff.’”
He said the situation leaves principals with “nothing to work with.”
Costa, a member of the Parent Teacher Organization, said he is disappointed with the response given to the parents of Hunking, and asked for more information.
“The letter that went out to the school one week after the incident happened was unacceptable,” he said. “No man should be able to write one week later. Unacceptable. We pay a great freight of taxes with a $19 million cut and we’re all aware of it. What cuts for safety were done?”
A licensed emergency medical technician, Costa said it is “alarming” the School Safety subcommittee has not met in more than five years, with its last meeting on Oct. 18, 2019. He said he believes the incident could have been prevented with proper staffing on the crosswalks near the school. He cited the student handbook, which says students should only cross at crosswalks where a crossing guard has been assigned.
Betty said the school is “trying to make improvements” and be proactive in promoting student safety, hosting subsequent meetings with faculty and staff to reiterate safety concerns with their students.
“We are working with the Haverhill Police Department as well as Safe Schools. They have already been out to Hunking,” he said.
The approximately 1,070 student school, originally built to house just 1,004 students, is nestled within a Bradford neighborhood, which has a “problematic” configuration, according to Betty.
School Committee Vice Chairman Paul A. Magliocchetti noted that student safety is a priority, especially as WHAV reported in 2021, 153 new apartments were permitted within the neighborhood.
“I hope we can stay ahead of it. We are going to have revisit this issue, like Mr. Costa said, student safety is of utmost importance. I know you [Betty] take it seriously,” he said.
Superintendent Margaret Marotta said the school department has 19 crossing guard positions within the budget. Sixteen crossing guards are on the job, while three vacancies remain open.
Committee member Yonnie Collins motioned review the district’s emergency response protocols. Joined by Magliocchetti, all members voted in favor to send the matter to the Policy Subcommittee.