Questionable Security Drill Records in Hoboken and 22 Other NJ School Districts- WNBC TV New York

An investigation by NBC 4 New York's I-Team (Pei-Sze Cheng,  Fred Mamoun and Allison Fox)
has raised questions about mandated security drills in some New Jersey schools despite a renewed sense of national urgency when it comes to ensuring students, teachers and staff are prepared in the case of emergencies. Unfortunately, the Hoboken Public Schools under the stewardship of a group known as Kids First--- made the news this time:

"The Hoboken School District had several schools with questionable drill records, the I-Team found. One drill at Hoboken High School was recorded on September 17, 2012, but the school was closed for Rosh Hashanah. A school administrator told the I-Team officials are reviewing their dates."  -NBC 4 (May 20, 2015)

Seems that there were some inconsistencies with mandated public school drills and the dates that the administration of these drills took place. But in a school district where there have been 6 superintendents in 6 years, 2012 is ancient history. 

Click to Enlarge

Nonetheless, the Hoboken Public School District, under the leadership and stewardship of the political group known as Kids First, bears the burden of the responsibility. It will be interesting to see what, if any, the response will be. Here is more of the news report as well as a link to the actual news segment on NBC on May 20, 2015:

An investigation by NBC 4 New York's I-Team has raised questions about mandated security drills in some New Jersey schools despite a renewed sense of national urgency when it comes to ensuring students, teachers and staff are prepared in the case of emergencies.

Deadly school shootings like those at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, prompted changes to state laws across the nation.

Mandates for performing school emergency drills vary. New Jersey has some of the strictest laws on the books. Every school, public or private, must conduct one security drill a month or at least 10 drills a year in the Garden State. In New York, schools are only required to conduct one security drill a year under state law. Connecticut schools must conduct at least three drills a year.

Click to Enlarge

“The purpose of the drills is really to have educators start thinking outside the box, to start using their heads about alternatives to what they're faced with,” said Pat Kissane, executive director of the New Jersey arm of the National Association of School Resource Officers.

The I-Team reviewed records from public schools across 10 counties in New Jersey and found more than 150 questionable drill records in 23 school districts.

Some drills were recorded has having been carried out on weekends, during spring and winter recesses. Others appeared to have been conducted on school holidays.

The Hoboken School District had several schools with questionable drill records, the I-Team found. One drill at Hoboken High School was recorded on September 17, 2012, but the school was closed for Rosh Hashanah. A school administrator told the I-Team officials are reviewing their dates.

Read the full story by clicking HERE.