MERRIMACK – The topic of school shootings arose as part of discussion during Monday evening’s Merrimack School Board meeting, with newly elected member Brandi Munez calling attention to what she said is a nationwide epidemic that sadly could happen anywhere.

“You don’t look at it as a not-us statistic,” she said, noting a tragedy could occur locally.

Every school district could be susceptible, Munez said, which is why said said security measures should be part the school board’s budget. Among items for review would be the placement of cameras in school facilities to monitor for suspicious activity and provide visibility in areas not easily seen. This is one of several ideas Munez said she hoped board members and other district officials would continue to expand upon in the coming weeks.

School board approval of a request for payment for security cameras from the Public School Infrastructure Fund was listed as an agenda item for Monday’s meeting. The item was brought forth by Superintendent Marge Chiafery. Eighteen cameras were purchased during the summer for use in school buildings throughout the district at a cost of $38,185, a first step toward improving school security.

Chiafery indicated the district could be reimbursed for some or all of that cost by the newly created New Hampshire Public School Infrastructure Fund. This fund had $18,760,000 available to public schools, including charter schools, to expend for the following purposes: providing an E-rate state match (bringing fiber connections to schools); addressing life and safety deficiencies at schools; and improving security in schools. State HB1415 added an additional $10 million to address school security.

Board members voted unanimously to pursue the state funding. The application process is closed, according to information on the New Hampshire Department of Education’s website, education.nh.gov. The state commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 26.

Prior to the start of the regular board meeting Monday, members participated in a tour of schools at Merrimack Elementary and James Mastricola Upper Elementary to view completed summer maintenance projects.

The board, also as part of its agenda, discussed utilization of the district’s Brentwood property for the 2018-19 school year.

However, before that can occur, a recent fire marshal inspection revealed there is no sprinkler system. Because of this, it cannot be “used as a school,” Assistant Superintendent for Business Matt Shevenell said.

The fire alarms also are very old and need to be replaced, Shevenell said. He also said there were holes in some of the building’s sheet rock, and that handicap-accessible ramps needed to be upgraded or replaced. Because of this extensive work, one idea from the board is to utilize the space for offices versus classrooms, as smoke detectors also must be upgraded. Replacing the fire alarm panel could exceed $64,000, Shevenell said.

This led to discussion about whether the building should be demolished and replaced with new construction.

“I am not a Band-Aid person. We cannot remove it slowly,” Munez said of that possible solution.

Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to utilize the Brentwood property as permitted.

The next regularly scheduled Merrimack School Board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Merrimack Town Hall in the Matthew Thornton Room.

Katherine Glosser can be reached via email at kglosser@nashuatelegraph.com.