Webb: No additional security is needed for election

Schools used as polls should be closed on Election Day, one parent suggested.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown City Schools superintendent said school buildings to be used as polling places in Tuesday's election have adequate security, and no additional measures are planned.
"Election Day is probably one of the most safe days in our schools," said Dr. Wendy Webb.
The buildings have poll workers and parents on the premises all day, adding to the number of watchful eyes to cover the doors, she said.
"We don't beef up or do anything extra," Webb said.
Parents raise concern
Ten of the district's buildings will be used as polling locations.
Parents have raised the issue of building security at parent advisory meetings; Jennifer Lewis of Indianola Avenue, a member of a district parent advisory board, raised it again this week.
Youngstown's school buildings have good security, but it is compromised on Election Day with people coming and going freely, Lewis said.
Increased traffic causes concern outside the buildings, but the buildings themselves are more vulnerable to someone intent on doing harm to a child or children, she said.
She suggested closing school for the day if buildings have to be used as polls or having police protection at each affected building.
Webb said no one can guarantee that nothing will ever happen, but the school district maintains an excellent security system that can have security personnel at a building within seconds if a problem arises.
She declined to be specific about the system but did say that security people travel daily around the district in cars, making them readily available in any emergency. The district also stays in close contact with city police, she said.
Building principals make sure their pupils are kept away from polling areas, and teachers work to keep children on their best behavior, Webb said.
The district also has a crisis response plan to deal with any issue, she said.
"I certainly believe it's a safe day. Election Day will go on, and the schools will not be closed," she said.
Election board's view
Poll security is up to the individual poll location, said Tom McCabe, Mahoning County director of elections.
The county provides no funding for that purpose, he said.
There haven't been any major problems at Youngstown schools in the past, he said. The district is able to isolate polling locations within its buildings, and district staff is diligent about people being in the hallways, he said.
Sheriff's deputies, at the disposal of the election office on Election Day, can respond to any emergency, McCabe said.
There was a problem this May when the Ohio State Penitentiary off Route 616 experienced a prisoner escape on Election Day, and a number of Youngstown's East Side schools, as part of their crisis response plan, went into lockdown, he said. Sheriff's deputies had to stand by at each poll to let voters in and out of the buildings until the prisoner was caught, he said. The crisis lasted only an hour, he said.
gwin@vindy.com