MAHWAH BOARD OF EDUCATION 10 Ridge Read, Mahwah, NJ 07430, Richard DeSilva, Jr Leslie Konikow ‘st Vice President Kim Barron 2nd View President President Wichae! Gatow Prema G. Moorthy Benjamin A Kezmarsky Peter J. Wendrychowicz Linda Mavretish Lynd Zaccone February 20,2018 Dear Mahwah Families, ‘As many of you ae avare, subsequent fo Dr. Schoen’s last communication, the mayor made a post on his personal Facebook page, and has spoken out o the media, As president of Mahah's Board of Education, [felt Compelled to address the families of our school community on behalf ofthe trustees ofthe Bond, ad i conjunction with our Superintendent of School. In part, his post dee the Chief of Police to “assign ‘uniformed, armed patol officer teach of our Township schools when school is in session to ensure the safety of the students and staf” This directive was made without ay input or collaborative diseusion with either the Police Department or the District. Its important for parents to undestand that robust security measures and emergency procedures do exist a each ‘of our schools. ‘These procedures have been caefilly designed and implemented in purnership with the Mahwah Police Department, and are under ongoing review depending onthe needs of our district, Atte present time, given the heightened focus on security within our district, we are maintaining an active and regular dialogue with Chief Batel and the Mahwah Police Department, In order for our safety procedutes to be most effective, these measures nexd ta be closely held, as public knowledge of our security procedures would render them less effective in the event that they needed to be put into action. In short, please know that, even ‘though our school security measues and procedures are not widely known, they do exist, and your child's safety remains ou priority [As Dr. Schoen indicted in her previous communication, our police department wil continue fo maintain a Visible presence outside of our schools forthe foreseeable fur, and we appreciate the continued support ofthe Mahwah Police Department in ou efforts to provide and maintain a safe leaming-environment for our students President, Mahwah Board of Eduction Superfntendent of Schools