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80-RE4
Top Member
USA
5700 Posts |
 Posted - 10/21/2006 : 8:25:56 PM
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Note: There are two sections of this post: One is "Parents spark bus stop move" and the second topic (below) is an editorial on the topic.
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Parents spark bus stop move
By Brian Falla/ Daily News Staff
Tuesday, October 17, 2006 - Updated: 02:32 AM EST
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS-- School officials say they will move a middle school bus stop after parents complained it was too close to the home of a person they fear is a sex offender.
The School Committee pressed for the change last week after hearing from disgruntled parents.
Member Paul Samargedlis said he applauded parents, who live in the vicinity of the Norwood Memorial Airport, for bringing up the concern, since by law the Police Department cannot publicly post any information on the feared offender until after an appeal process and registration with the state’s Sex Offender Registry.
"It’s kind of a blind spot," said Samargedlis. "This isn’t a blaming situation -- nobody really knew. It shows a flaw in the system. The important thing is the parents came forward and we were able to do something."
"We’re operating in an information vacuum," member Chris Morrison said yesterday, "and we’re doing our best to address the concerns."
Middle school parent Donna Martin said she was "frustrated and dissatisfied" that the bus stop was ever put in front of that person’s home, saying it was her understanding the change was made to shorten the length of the bus route.
"Why should a safe situation be made unsafe for the sake of time?" Martin said.
But school Superintendent Ed Quigley stressed the bus stop was not purposely placed near the rumored offender’s home.
"This wasn’t moved in front of that home -- the schools didn’t have that information," said Quigley.
While the School Committee agreed it was beyond its powers to demand a bus stop change, administrators said changing the stop would not be a problem.
But Morrison said there seems to be a discrepancy between what the original plotted bus routes were and what became reality.
"I’d like to see a chart because there seems to be a disconnect," said Morrison.
Chairwoman Toni Eosco said she plans to meet with administrators and go over the routes and get back to the committee in two weeks.
Member Mitch Pentowski said, "Norwood is small town, but there are some spots that are not safe."
Reporter Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or at bfalla@cnc.com
http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=78553
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Editorial: Close blind spot
Friday, October 20, 2006 - Updated: 12:24 AM EST
Some law needs to be written to cover the kind of peril that Norwood faced this year.
It seems a school bus stop was right near the house where a possible sex offender lived.
Shocking.
But police couldn’t release any information on the person because that person had not had his appeal process completed and the person was not yet registered with the state’s Sex Offender Registry.
This has to be corrected.
Schools, police and neighbors need to press legislators to introduce legislation to give this sort of information to those who need it.
Not knowing about the possible sex offender, the school department put the bus stop in the least expensive spot. That is what they are supposed to be.
Only when some neighbors caught wind of the possible sex offender having an address right beside the school bus did a protest arise.
Police knew, but could not tell anybody else and school therefore could not know.
Unacceptable.
Defendants do have certain rights under the law. But in a case like this one, the guilty verdict has already been reached. The only question is what category of danger the sex offender warrants. The Sex Offender Registry can judge the offender level number one, least likely to re-offend. If the offender is level number two or three, there has to be some degree of public warning about the offender.
These are decisions the Sex Offender Registry reach to protect the public, not to protect the offender.
Once an offender has been judged guilty, and served his or her sentence, the continuing observation is solely for the benefit of people who need to protect themselves and their children.
Now that Norwood knows about the sex offender’s address, the administrators have quickly changed the bus stop.
So now there are no excuses, all parties must close this blind spot in the Sex Offender Registry.
http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/opinion/view.bg?articleid=78639 |
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(News) Parents spark BS move & Editorial: Close...
