Start to school includes cops, security cameras

BY KAREN BEST
Haldimand Review Staff
Thursday, September 07, 2006

The first day of school is about students wearing new fall clothes and carrying the latest in backpacks. Its also about tears shed by parents sending off youngsters who are beginning their education.

In Caledonia, the first day at Notre Dame Elementary School included an increased police presence, new security cameras and school board and school administrators attempts to open up doors with a sense of normalcy. The school yard abuts on Douglas Creek Estates which has been occupied by some Six Nations persons since Feb. 28.

Hours before they were standing at the schools doorway, an unwelcome alarm sounded in the neighbourhood. A roaring engine noise reverberated off the site and in the vicinity of the rail road tracks along Braemar and MacCrae Drives. OPPat the Braemar Street checkpoint said the sound was caused by a regular Six Nations ATV security patrol. Residents said a 4X4 truck without a muffler was driving around on the site in the evening and morning hours.

With the ongoing backdrop of such activity, many parents continue to be concerned about sending their children to Notre Dame School. On the first day, 45 children were absent. Of the 25 who were transferred out, 10 were attending a public school, eight were enrolled in other schools, four were off to Hamilton and the status of three students was unknown, according to Rebecca Taylor. She is the communications coordinator for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board.

Based on the school population of 513 students, only five per cent had transferred out, she added.

On Tuesday afternoon, only four official transfers were underway with parents requesting Ontario student records. The other 20 absences were these four students from four families, seven children who had moved and nine who were on holidays or ill.

A mother of a junior kindergarten and Grade 2 student, Sonja Saweczko understood parent concerns. No one means to harm the kids but accidents happen. Thats the threat, thats the fear,she said after dropping off her children. More parents than usual accompanied their children on this first day of school.

For Saweczko there is no other option. This is her childrens school and she wants them to have a Catholic education. I want them to be kids and have fun at school,she said.

She was happy with her childrens teachers but found the situation to be far from normal. The situation is just weird. I just want to get back to normalcy, she said.

Last school year, she wanted to see OPPin the school yard and welcome their presence this fall. Ifeel the kids are safe as much as they can be. Iwish they didnt need them(OPP).

The woman was pleased to see construction underway for an eight foot fence along the 100 foot end of the school yard. Out of sight, out of mind,Saweczko noted. Children dont need to see that (the occupied site).

A resident of Thistlemoor Drive was angry that the fence was not already up and that board education director Theresa Harris had not checked out the yard.

Construction was delayed because workers did not want to step onto the occupied site. On Tuesday morning, three police officers stood by while construction was underway. The chain link fence had been removed and a construction barrier fence was up to keep students away from workers and equipment.

During a meeting in August, an OPPspecialist in crime prevention through environmental design suggested a solid fence was a safety risk, reported Taylor. The board decided to proceed with it because parents wanted to prevent distractions for students, she continued.

The board did follow through with other OPP suggestions including installation of more security cameras, changes in outside lighting and tinting windows on classrooms at the back of the school which faces DCE. The tint will be done so people cannot see in, said Taylor.

After describing these changes, Taylor said, We want things to be as normal as possible, as ordinary as possible.

An OPPofficer is permanently assigned to the school during its hours of operations. Before and after school and at recess and lunch, officers will be in the school yard.

Like all schools, Notre Dame has an emergency evacuation plan. Children will not be moved out of the school if there is a safety risk around the property.

Last year, the school was safer than it needed to be, Taylor said, noting parent confidence in the school.We also have no fear that student safety is at risk,she said.

Meanwhile school superintendent Bill Chopp dropped by because every year he visits his schools on the first day. This year, Notre Dame was in the rotation for a blessing by Pastor George Summut. Nearby OPPConstable David Meyer stood smiling at arriving children. Im here to show support for some parents with concerns here, he said. The fact that we are here demonstrates everythings safe.

Education director Theresa Harris was out to see the school off to a good start and to make sure everything was as it should be. She has heard concerns. Parents have a pretty solid reason to be confident with having children here,she said.

Her hope is the fence will be temporary. Construction of a berm is a long range plan but will not happen until anxiety is over and the DCEland use is decided through negotiations, she continued. Principal Joe DiFrancesco said students were excited about the first day of school but he acknowledged other issues. Everyone is aware of the stress level around here and safety has always been a concern for both sides, he added. Events happen at night, he pointed out alluding to disturbances on and near DCE.

In late August, teachers listened treaty presentations by Confederacy Chiefs Allan MacNaughton and Leroy Hill. A psychiatrist spoke about stress and anxiety and a university professor gave a lecture on Six Nations History. A representative from Haldimand-Norfolk REACH provided information on accessing counselling for children. The day wound up with a tour of the reclamation site, according to the professional development day agenda.