Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2022 PARENTS | FROM PAGE 1 tive, which has been used in the Cambridge Public Schools since 2007. “This program has become a national model,” said Clarke. In response, Police Chief Steven Mazzie said that on January 26 the high school received a call from an unidentifi ed male who claimed he was armed and was seeking vengeance against someone. “That triggered the original shelter in place,” said Mazzie. Further communication with the man suggested that he may have entered the high school at one point. “That triggered the lockdown, which in my opinion was the right call to make,” said Mazzie. “I personally came over here myself; I participated in the whole incident.” Mazzie also dispelled rumors about a SWAT team being called in. “There was no SWAT team in the building,” he said. “SWAT was never called here.” School Resource Offi cer Stephen Ramunno spoke about the urgency to clear the high school and keep the students protected. “I don’t have my own kids; I have 2,200 in this building and I felt the panic that day,” he said. “Every single one of your kids was my priority.” Mazzie said no arrests have been made and that the investigation remains ongoing. Superintendent of Schools PriANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $3.359 Mid Unleaded $3.419 Super $3.519 Diesel Fuel $3.979 "43 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2021 KERO $4.99 DEF $3.49 9 Diesel $3.499 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS In recognition of the Everett High School Marching Band’s recent performance at the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, State Senator Sal DiDomenico and State Representative Joseph McGonagle presented the band with citations on behalf of the Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker. The band was also presented with a letter from President Joe Biden. Shown, from left to right are State Representative Joseph McGonagle, EHS Music Department Administrative Assistant Penny Yebba, Ward 1 School Committee Member Millie Cardello, Band Director Eugene O’Brien, Band Member Breetika Maharjan, EHS Music Teacher Mark Sachetta, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, School Committee Chairperson Jeanne Cristiano and Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani. State Senator Sal DiDomenico is credited with securing $200,000 for the band to travel to Hawaii. City Council designates all school offi cials as special municipal employees T By Christopher Roberson he City Council, during its February 3 meeting, voted unanimously to designate the members of the School Committee as special municipal employees. The matter was initially brought before the council on January 23 as Legislative Aide Michael Mangan and Veterans Commissioner Jeanne Cristiano had been sworn in to serve on the School Committee. School Committee members currently receive an annual salary of $12,500. During the February 3 meeting, Councillor-at-Large Stephanie Smith said it was necessary for the council to approve the designation. “Because you designate the position and not the individual, the entire School Committee is now going to be covered under the special municipal employee classifi cation,” said Smith. “They cannot serve without this classification. To not grant this classifi cation would be going against a vote of the residents.” Councillor-at-Large Richard Dell Isola said it is admirable that Mangan and Cristiano would return their School Committee pay back to the district. “They could turn around and take the money and do what they want, but no, they’re going to take the money and give it back to the schools,” he said. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony COUNCIL | SEE PAGE 4 ya Tahiliani said she and her colleagues have been working to bolster security measures since last fall. In that time, she said, a Critical Incident Response Plan has been implemented and that a position has been posted for a security director. In addition, Tahiliani said the need was identifi ed for 38 high-resolution cameras and that 20 alarms are being installed on external doors at the high school. Police Chief Steven Mazzie spoke about the events of January 26 that caused Everett High School to go into lockdown. (Photos Courtesy of the Everett Public Schools) She also said a card access system will be implemented for staff at all the schools. “All doors will remain locked throughout the day, and employees will have to scan their IDs at one of two doors,” she said. Tahiliani said the district is also working with Navigate360 to provide additional Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE) training, a federally endorsed safety protocol that was created in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Columbine High School. With this supplemental training, Tahiliani said, building administrators would be appointed as ALICE trainers. School Committee Vice Chairperson Michael McLaughlin said he would like to see a schedule for putting these plans into action. “I see a lot of recommendations that the superintendent laid out here tonight, but I don’t see any specific timeline in which those things are going to be implemented,” he said. “A lot more needs to be discussed.” Prices subject to change Ask about our Conditioner! FLEET
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