BCAT News

Burlington High School students and community members voiced their anxieties to the School Committee Tuesday night after two separate safety incidents – one in which a student brought a knife to school, and one system malfunction of the emergency system that resulted in a lockdown and police search – left some in the community rattled. 

“Speaking on behalf of the students, a majority still do not feel safe in the school,” said a junior who identified herself as Lila. 

The first incident, in which a student showed a knife to other students in a school bathroom and then, according to some students, used it to threaten other students in a classroom later that same day, took place on Friday, September 20. 

Student Jack Carey said he felt the communication with students and families was insufficient. “A class was threatened with a knife, however the administration only communicated to us, the students and the parents, that there had only been a sighting of that knife, without communicating the severity of the situation,” he said. 

In a separate incident on the morning of Tuesday, September 24, the BHS WAVE emergency response system was triggered. 

Nino Blum, a parent of a student at the Burlington Early Childhood Center, which is located inside the high school, questioned the speed of the administration’s response. “We weren’t alerted that there was a lockdown until about an hour after the alarm was triggered,” he said. “I’m curious what the protocol is, is there any place where we can access this procedure, and get more knowledge about what we can expect in the event of an emergency.” 

“We tried to communicate as quickly and as accurately as we could, and so it took us that time that you were waiting for us to get the message out,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Conti. “The incident on Friday involves a student and we have to be a little bit careful about sharing information about students. And again, I thought the high school handled that situation as quickly as they could.” Conti added that the entire school community followed protocol rapidly and thoroughly during Tuesday’s lockdown, and it was evidence that safety drills and practice were working. 

“I can assure everyone these protocols are taken very seriously, the drills are taken very seriously, and the debriefs that happen after are also taken very seriously,” said School Committee Member Jeremy Brooks, who is the committee’s representative on the school safety subcommittee. “I think having the communication come out in about an hour is a true testament to how disciplined and how well organized the staff are.” 

School Committee Chair Chris Monaco said her granddaughter was in class on Friday in the hallway where the button malfunctioned, and she got a blow-by-blow of what her granddaughter experienced. “We’re all very sorry that all these incidents have happened and have scared people,” she said. “Fortunately no one was hurt, and as far as today goes, it was an entirely separate incident where a panic button malfunctioned, there was no threat to anyone at any time.”

“I’m sorry this happened. I don’t think it was the fault of anyone, but it’s a terrible feeling to have, and I wish that no student of any kind ever had to feel unsafe in a school,” said School Committee Member Melissa Massardo. “I do want to commend the superheroes, all the people that followed the training that they’ve had and the students that had to go through this experience.” 

The committee said resources are available for students who are experiencing stress or mental health challenges as a result of the recent events. The district is planning a safety event at the high school on October 9 at 7 p.m., with a meet-and-greet with the School Resource Officer and PTOs starting at 6:30 p.m.