September 28, 2015

In light of two weapons’ incidents within weeks of each other on school grounds, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District administration is planning on another community conversation regarding safety.

School Superintendent John Sanville sent out an email to that effect during the weekend on Sept. 26.

In the letter, Sanville reviewed the response to the latest incident, and how security at district schools has developed since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut two years ago.

In the email, Sanville said: “The community conversation that followed opened our eyes and ears even more — and we listened, discussed, and took notes. As a result we created a 27-point action plan to make our schools as safe as possible.”

Some of those steps, he said, included installing emergency 9-1-1 call buttons in all schools, increasing camera coverage on each campus, installing protective 3M film to prevent breaking through entranceway glass and increasing planning and drills in each school.

He also said: “In large part, because of the changes we made two years ago, we were able to intervene in both of these situations. By diffusing potentially dangerous circumstances, students and staff were free from harm.

“So now we will do what we know works…and have another community conversation. The date and time will be determined shortly and advertised to our community. I urge you to attend – and to bring your concerns, suggestions, and thoughts. The combination of perspectives, ideas, and varied viewpoints will be a conduit to better understanding the issues that we need to focus on.  There can never be too many interested parties discussing things that are so important.”

The most recent incident occurred last Friday, Sept. 25, when a hunting knife was discovered in a high school student’s pickup truck parked at Unionville High. The student was suspended for the infraction.

Earlier this month, a parent who was picking up his child at the middle school, left his car unlocked with a firearm inside and the engine running. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office declined to press any charges.

The Longwood Fire Company recently placed a new Pierce Arrow XT pumper into service, a press release from the fire company said.

“The vehicle was funded 100 percent by the residents of Kennett Township,” Longwood Fire Chief A. J. McCarthy said in the release. “We are extremely grateful for their continued support of our fire company.”

McCarthy did not return phone calls requesting information on the cost of the new truck, which was purchased from Glick Fire Equipment, Inc., which operates an eastern Pennsylvania office in Bird-in-Hand.

Kennett Township Manager Lisa M. Moore said the $630,000 expense represented the township’s capital contribution for the next five years.

The process for replacing Longwood’s 2001 Pierce Quantum rescue engine began in 2014 when the fire company’s apparatus committee designed the pumper to complement another Longwood fire truck. “We did so to standardize our equipment and aid in operation and training,” McCarthy said in the release.

The new vehicle has a six-man cab and features a 2,000 gallon-per-minute, single-stage Waterous pump, the release said.

The acquisition comes shortly after a task force, which consists of members served by the Longwood, Po-Mar-Lin and Kennett fire companies, authorized a study on emergency services. The Borough of Kennett Square and Kennett, Pocopson, Pennsbury, East Marlborough and Newlin townships want an outside consultant to help determine what each municipality’s fair share should be, what equipment is needed, and how to handle ambulance services.

In other Longwood Fire Company news, the company learned last week that it will receive a federal Assistance-to-Firefighters grant of $120,000 to replace 12 lead cardiac monitors.

“The funding allows us to lessen the financial burden on our municipal partners and our residents,” McCarthy said in a press release. “The money will be used to replace our aging monitors utilized by our EMT and paramedic staff in our Mobile Intensive Care Units.”

McCarthy said in the release that the new cardiac monitors should be in service by January 2016.

Longwood Fire Company has served the communities of Kennett, East Marlborough, Pennsbury and Pocopson townships since 1921. Longwood Fire Company provides fire and rescue and emergency medical services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information, visit www.longwoodfireco.com.