Smithtown parents demand security upgrades after student arrested with firearm

Parents at a Smithtown school board meeting on Tuesday demanded immediate changes to campus security after a student at Smithtown High School West was arrested with a gun. The incident has forced families to confront the daily entry procedures for their children, with many arguing that current checks are insufficient to detect concealed items.

Suffolk police responded to the school just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday following a 911 call. The caller reported that a student had posted a picture with a gun on social media. School staff searched the student's backpack and discovered a knife, a firearm, and a magazine. Superintendent Mark Secaur explained in a letter that administrators were alerted to the potential social media post during an investigation into a conflict between two peers. They contacted Suffolk County police, who confirmed the presence of an unloaded handgun and bullets in the bag.

The teenager appeared in court on Wednesday. Authorities have not released the student's name due to his age. Prosecutors stated that the firearm had been reported stolen in Florida.

During the meeting, parents expressed anger over the district's response and lack of transparency. Alexandra Kalish, a parent, argued that the discovery of a gun should force a reevaluation of the entire campus. She stated that a metal detector would have resolved the issue. Kristen Hachemeister told school officials that the district was failing to keep children safe. She compared school entry to a haunted house or concert, asking why a simple bag check is not standard practice.

The school district declined to provide additional details on its plans. A spokesperson told News 12 that there was no further information to share and that no one was available for an interview. This silence has deepened the divide between families and district leadership regarding safety protocols.

Michael Cohen, a former superintendent in the Brentwood School District, noted that the use of metal detectors remains a topic of debate among educators. He said some districts avoid them to prevent students from feeling like they are entering a danger zone. Cohen advised that decisions should reflect community input, noting that elected board members will respond to constituent preferences.

The board is scheduled to review security measures in the coming weeks as it processes public feedback from the Tuesday session.