after hours at our elementary schools

[forestlakermomof2]

I wanted to make you aware of the situation that has been occuring most weekends at our schools. Our kids, most of them are MS or HS freshman & sophomores, are hanging out at the schools and they are drinking, vomiting, urinating and defacating on school property. This is disgusting and it must stop! These children are destroying school property. I don't want my elementary school child playing on playground equipment that has been covered in God knows what! A small fire was set on the side of Forest Lake not too long ago. Used condoms have been found as well as drug paraphernalia. The problem is that many of the parents have no idea where their children are. There are even rumors that parents are supplying the beer for their children and dropping them off at the schools. I really hope this is not true. Shame on any parent that buys their underage child alcohol! Please ask your child where he/she is going when he/she leaves the house. If they say they are going to a friends house, call that house on the land line, NOT the cell phone. Ask to speak to your child to verify that they are really where they say they are. This situation will not change unless all of us are willing to take responsibility for our children. Police are stepping up their patrols at all the elementary schools. These children can be taken in for tresspassing as well as underage drinking. Please talk to your child and tell them how hanging out at the school is not a good idea. Dr. Marsh has asked all citizens of Wantagh to call 911 if we see this happening on school property. One child needs to be taken down to the police precinct so the rest of the kids realize this is serious and should not be happening. Don't let your child be the example.

[Chris_Wendt]

There is sometime an older youth in a car who comes by to say 'Hi!' and to dispense some party favors to the younger ones. A six-pack or a dime bag. I have seen one of the younger ones extract the remains of a dime bag from beneath that rubber stuff where he had it stashed in one of WES playgrounds.

I haven't brought my granddaughter back there, but mostly because of the ketchup that got all over her clothes.

Part of the problem is lack of foresight when politicians and well-intentioned groups donate playground equipment which the school board mistakenly feels obliged to accept and then installs without regard to physical security, lighting, and, oh yeah, supervision.

The district also does not enforce its own policy of the school grounds being closed at darkness. Gates are left open sometimes as late as 11:00, perhaps on the mistaken belief that the building cleaners are somehow paying attention to what the youth are doing in the parking lots and out on the grounds in the darkness.

This should not have to become a police matter. I guess it could, or will, if the 'owners' do not step up and take 'ownership' of the situation. But we, as a district and our BoE, have been there and done that with the police. Arrest the "wrong" kid, meaning the right kid, and the board members and (prior) administration go falling all over themselves to have the police drop the matter. We don't want any scion arrested!

The Seventh Precinct had given up on our schools in their territory. The First Precinct had required the district to sign an intent letter that would have allowed them to arrest people at night at FL. I no longer know the status of our relationship with either police precinct or their operating policy with respect to trespassing on district property at night.

But if the district leaves the parking lots and playgrounds unlocked, unlit, and unsupervised, is that fair to the Police Department? Is that fair to the kids? I mean, we are talking about kids here.

Two night security guards, one to patrol the grounds at FL, WES & Mandalay, and one for the MS/HS campus could solve this problem a lot more effectively and a lot less costly than having the cops try to act as campus security.

Don't have the money? Are we lacking the will to manage this situation? Okay, then take down those playgrounds and sell them on e-Bay. The next politician who wants to donate playground equipment should be told by the District's administrator in charge of giving to make it SMART Boards or i-Pads, instead. Oh, wait, we don't have anyone responsible to manage giving.

Chris Wendt

[lilly]

I think it was last school year that Dr. Begley issued a statement saying that vandalism and loitering won't be tolerated and will be prosecuted (something like that). It used to be on the district website but is no longer there. Apparently Dr. Marsh issued another statement (as well as a parent portal? hello, is Wantagh actually entering the 21st century tech-wise? )

I droned on about this in prior posts. Our beloved babysitter offered me advice years ago when she was looking after our then small kids. She said the secret to her teens staying out of trouble was that she encouraged them to be busy/actively involved in all sorts of interests and her knowing where they were at all times. No walking the streets at night with the "I'm going to The Cup" or 711 for a slurpee explanation. They are not, they are looking for other teens to hang with, usually at the elem schools. Teen boredom in the suburbs = not good (and it is their natural inclination to find others for social stimuli). I honestly cannot stand the sight of large groups of teens walking around town on weekend nights - drives me nuts, not a lot of good can come of it. Wandering the streets aimlessly and hanging out at the elem schools at night remains a punishable offense in my house.

[tiredoftaxes]

It's a shame...The extra $50k the BOE is paying the new Super could have paid for at least one security guard...Maybe the BOE should go back to the previous Super and ask for some of our tax dollars back since she broke her contract.....