D-R Superintendent Runey on School Security

Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools Superintendent Bill Runey provided an update on efforts to improve security at the district's buildings, following the arrest of a man who broke into Palmer River Elementary School last month. Police later identified the suspect as 35 year-old Jacob Hunt of Taunton. He is being charged with breaking and entering into a building in the daytime and destruction of property over $1200.

"The resolution by RPD at PRES gives us all some peace of mind," Runey said Monday. "As for security, we have been working on our safety and security vision  since the tragedy in Uvalde, Tx. In just a few months, we have made significant progress in achieving that vision.  Our school committee set the tone in July with a special meeting, and this was one of the significant agenda items. We, then, had multiple strategy sessions with police and fire in both towns as well as an independent security consultant.  We still have boxes to check, but we have common language in our crisis plans and have dramatically improved communication."

" Although there is no such thing as absolute safety, we continue to work to achieve our goal to make our schools as safe as possible," Runey added.