For Immediate Release:
May 8, 2009
State Legislators Announce Passage Of "Public Schools Emergency Alert Act" At Site Of 2007 School Lockdown In Glen Oaks, Queens
Legislation Headed To Governor Paterson For Signature
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Video: www.nyad25.org/50809video.htm
Assemblymembers Lancman and Weprin, Senator Addabbo and local parents and teachers announced the passage in the Assembly and Senate of the Public Schools Emergency Alert Act (A.1245/S.3254) at the Glen Oaks Campus in Queens. This legislation would establish an emergency alert notification system to provide parents, teachers, staff and elected officials with accurate, real-time information during emergencies at public schools. The Public Schools Emergency Alert Act was inspired by the 2007 lockdown on the Glen Oaks Campus, which produced an outcry from parents distressed by the absence of official notice and is now waiting for Governor Paterson's signature.
"As a parent, I cannot tell you how important it is to know that your child is safe and how awful the anxiety can be when you do not know. To ensure public safety and prevent panic when there is an emergency at school, it is essential that we establish an electronic notification system so that parents, school staff and public officials can have current, accurate information in a crisis," said Assemblymember Lancman.
"The technology necessary for providing timely information about an emergency situation to every parent exists, and the Department of Education will soon be taking advantage of it," said Assemblymember Mark Weprin. "Every parent has a right to know what is happening in his or her child’s school, especially if there is an emergency.”
"I respectfully urge the Governor to sign Senate bill 3254 to better handle school safety situations for the benefit of our schools, students and their families," said Senator Addabbo.
"This is an important step forward for New York City schools; it will help keep staff, parents and the community informed of any emergency situation that may occur. I congratulate Assemblymember Rory Lancman, Assemblymember Mark Weprin and Senator Addabbo on taking a bad situation and finding a proactive solution to keeping the public informed," said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Assembly Education Committee Chairwoman, in a statement.
"In 2007 we had a horrible situation at Glenn Oaks where parents were in panic because there was no notification. I can rest easy with something like this in place because people will be able to react accordingly. Parents won't be sitting at the bus stop for three hours wondering what happened to their kids," said Suzanne Windland, Co-President of the School District 26 Presidents Council.
"We want to thank the Senator and the Assemblymen for working on this. I am at teacher here at IS 266 and when we were on lockdown it was a very scary time for all of us. I live near the school and I had parents going to my own home to see if I had any information on their children. We really appreciate this legislation so that parents can be aware of everything that is going on in the school if there is a lockdown," said Mary Vaccaro District 26 Representative for the United Federation of Teachers.
More information on the Public Schools Emergency Alert Act is available at the following link: