Page 7 - Work Force October 2025

Custodian: ‘We’re on the front lines, too’
WEST SENECA —
For Nancy Schmitt,
CSEA West Seneca
Central School
District Unit 2nd
Vice President and
head custodian at
the district’s Erie
One BOCES building,
the threat of gun
Schmitt
violence in schools
is more than a national conversation.
It’s a daily reality that shapes how
she approaches her job.
Preparedness is key
With 19 years of experience in
the district, including 17 years as
a teaching assistant, Schmitt has
seen how school safety needs have
evolved and she plays a critical role
in maintaining security in a school
that serves a wide range of students,
including those with disciplinary
challenges.
“When the kids enter the building,
their backpacks are wanded and
then they’re wanded too,” said
Schmitt. “We take it seriously
because we never know what
someone could be bringing in.”
Schmitt serves as the building
principal’s right-hand person when it
comes to school security.
While every teacher is equipped
with a two-way radio, some
custodians are not and that is
something Schmitt believes needs to
change.
“We’re on the front lines, too,”
said Schmitt. “My head is always on
a swivel.”
The school conducts six lockdown
drills each year in addition to regular
fire drills. Like other staff, Schmitt
completes annual Global Compliance
Network (GCN) training, which
includes active shooter protocols,
workplace violence and mental
health awareness. But for Schmitt,
real readiness comes from hands-on
practice and situational awareness.
Custodial areas remain locked
at all times. Schmitt is prepared
to physically secure rooms with
tactics like blocking inward-swinging
doors, methods she’s picked up from
real-life safety demonstrations and
training videos.
Challenges posed
Despite strong preparedness,
Schmitt worries that the school’s
aging infrastructure isn’t keeping up
with modern safety demands.
“Our fire system is 20 years
out-of-date with no plans to replace
it,” said Schmitt. “And the phones in
the office can’t call out. If I needed
to dial 911, I’d have to use my cell
phone.”
She also expressed concern
over the building’s layout. Some
classroom doors swing inward,
which could be a vulnerability in a
lockdown.
“Classroom doors should always
be locked,” said Schmitt. “It’s a basic
precaution.”
Schmitt has worked with the CSEA
Occupational Safety and Health
Department in the past when serious
concerns have surfaced. She plans
to reach out again to advocate for
updates, particularly regarding the
fire system and communication
equipment.
“They’ve been a great resource
when we’ve needed expert backup,”
said Schmitt.
Schmitt cautiously supports
New York state’s cell phone ban in
schools, which took effect at the
beginning of the school year. While
she appreciates its intent, she’s
already seen students bypassing the
system.
“Kids or their parents are ordering
unlock tools for the locking phone
pouches online,” said Schmitt. “If the
bag is in a locker, they just wait until
no one’s around and open it.”
Schmitt is especially worried
about cell phones escalating a gun
violence situation.
“Parents think they want their
child to call them in an emergency,
but that could make things worse,”
said Schmitt. “If a parent tells their
kid to run while everyone is hiding
or if a ringing phone gives away a
classroom’s location it could put
everyone in danger.”
Despite the concerns, Schmitt
is proud of her school’s proactive
communication culture.
“West Seneca schools are great
with communication,” she said. “Our
principal is very in tune with staff
and students.”
And when it comes to stopping
a potential tragedy before it starts,
Schmitt believes it’s everyone’s job
to stay alert and speak up.
“You’ve got to treat every
situation seriously,” said Schmitt.
“Because the one time you don’t,
that could be the time it matters
most.”
— Sara McNicholas
October 2025 7 7
The Work Force
Experience guides safety planning in
Newburgh School District
NEWBURGH — Lessons from
Each morning, students at
years of experiences have helped
the district’s junior highs and
formulate safety precautions in the
high schools pass through metal
Newburgh Enlarged City School
detectors and have backpacks
District.
checked. The same goes for district
That feedback
sporting events, including for
comes from
visitors. Student IDs are checked
Orange County
and visitors must have their ID
Local Secretary
scanned before gaining entry.
Joyce Howard-
When school ends for the day,
Crockett, a
students who don’t have specific
member of CSEA’s
after-school activities are not
Statewide School
allowed to remain on campus.
District Committee.
Limiting entry and exit points,
Howard-Crockett is
the district’s senior
Howard-
Crockett
especially at the district’s expansive
main high school campus, has
security monitor
been key in lowering the risk of
and has worked there since 1985.
incidents.
“Even though we’ve had
“Nowadays, kids are concerned
shootings in Newburgh, it’s still
about their phones, but we have
our neighborhood,” said Howard-
to be diligent about checking for
Crockett. “The community rallies to
different types of vapes and other
rise above it. Parents worry about
items,” said Howard-Crockett.
their kids, but they know we work
Newburgh began restricting
to make our schools a safe haven.”
phone use in 2024, with students
using Yondr pouches to deter use
during the school day.
“The Yondr pouches have
cut back on a lot of fights,” said
Howard-Crockett. “It’s not perfect
and things can happen once
students are off the school grounds,
but we’ve seen a change during the
school day.”
Howard-Crockett said a dose
of humanity is essential when it
comes to preventing issues from
escalating. Some students are
dealing with housing insecurity or
other issues.
“Students may be going through
stuff at home that we don’t know
about and that can impact them
during their school day,” said
Howard-Crockett. “Sometimes, there
are things we can do to help make
their day easier, so it is helpful
when we are aware of those things.”
— Jessica Ladlee