Springfield School Committee passes amendment on contract with Springfield Police Department Nicole Buddie — WWLP

The Springfield School Committee convened to vote on the contract renewal between the city’s police department and public schools.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield School Committee convened to vote on the contract renewal between the city’s police department and public schools.

“I don’t want to gamble on the safety of our students,” shared Mayor Sarno, Chairman of Springfield School Committee.

The three year old contract has granted access to cameras in the event of an emergency like a fire, gas leak and a lockdown.

“Officers can shave off minutes of their response time knowing who, what, where, when, it will undoubtedly save lives,” said Adam Fenn, Director of Safety and Security with Springfield Public Schools.

This agreement allows school officials to get in contact with law enforcement and request access to the security cameras. Springfield Public Schools are the only district in the commonwealth with this kind of technology.

In the last three years, this resource has been used seven times. Six of the calls to turn on the cameras being SWAT incidents, and the seventh incident responded to the Sci-Tech shooting. In that case, allowing officers to make an arrest within hours.

“I would approve the vote, if we approve the access to the schools security cameras MOU for 120 days which would give us the time to be able to have our public meeting that we are asking for and that way we do not lapse on the access to the camera in the meantime,” said Latonia Monroe Laynor, School Committee Member with the Springfield School Committee.

A motion passed Thursday evening concerning Mayor Sarno, who is also a member of the committee. “I’m speaking on the motion, this is serious business here. You have agreed upon contract for MOU, mutual agreed upon by both entities for three years, to keep our children and students and teachers safe and sound,” shared Mayor Sarno.

Committee members say there is not enough transparency as to who’s accessing these cameras and when with parents of children who attend Springfield Public Schools. But if something should occur and something lapses in 120 days and then the fingers are going to start getting pointed,” said Mayor Sarno.

As of Thursday evening, a 120 day extension has been set in place for the committee. During this time Springfield Public Schools in partnership with the city’s police department will be able to access the cameras if needed. In addition, the committee will need to hold a public forum to detail this resource and come to a new agreement with the police department.

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