NEWBURGH — Lessons from years of experiences have helped formulate safety precautions in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.
That feedback comes from Orange County Local Secretary Joyce Howard-Crockett, a member of CSEA’s Statewide School District Committee. Howard-Crockett is the district’s senior security monitor and has worked there since 1985.
“Even though we’ve had shootings in Newburgh, it’s still our neighborhood,” said Howard-Crockett. “The community rallies to rise above it. Parents worry about their kids, but they know we work to make our schools a safe haven.”
Each morning, students at the district’s junior highs and high schools pass through metal detectors and have backpacks checked. The same goes for district sporting events, including for visitors. Student IDs are checked and visitors must have their ID scanned before gaining entry.
When school ends for the day, students who don’t have specific after-school activities are not allowed to remain on campus. Limiting entry and exit points, especially at the district’s expansive main high school campus, has been key in lowering the risk of incidents.
“Nowadays, kids are concerned about their phones, but we have to be diligent about checking for different types of vapes and other items,” said Howard-Crockett.
Newburgh began restricting 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