Westwood Regional Schools Continue Security Review

Westwood Regional Schools have been reviewing their security to ensure student safety in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. school shooting, according to Acting Superintendent Rory McCourt.

McCourt said he believe the district was already "in a good place" but would continue to "tighten procedures."

"We're working really hard to support all the procedures that we have in the buildings," McCourt said.

The schools already have been locking all doors and using cameras at entrances so all visitors can be identified. McCourt said he had also been meeting with the principals to discuss their crisis plans.

The schools have been holding regular drills, but now are also planning to hold drills are particularly challenging times of day, McCourt said.

McCourt said he was also meeting with the police chiefs from Westwood and Washington Township to review security.

A Westwood Regional High School student was charged with possession of a fake weapon last month after he allegedly made a threat against other students online. The board voted to ban two students from the school until their next meeting. The ban would be reconsidered at each further board meeting. It was not clear whether or not the ban was related to the alleged threat.

Officials from the County School Boards Association spoke against bringing armed guards into schools during a panel last week.

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