DISTRICT SAFETY TOWN HALL MEETING TONIGHT AT MMS

A special town hall meeting is set for tonight, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Maplewood Middle School, 7 Burnet St., to discuss concerns and ideas for safety improvements in the wake of last week's arrests of two students on unrelated weapons charges at two district schools.

The first incident occurred last Wednesday when a 13-year-old seventh-grader at Maplewood Middle School was arrested with a loaded, 9mm. Glock handgun.

A day later, a ninth-grader at Columbia High School was apprehended with an airgun and a kitchen-style knife.

Since the incidents occurred, district and police officials say security has been beefed up, but many in the Township remain concerned that information was not made available soon enough and that allowed rumors and speculation to spread. Dozens of students did not attend class on Friday at the two schools, while others left early, according to officials.

Tonight's meeting will also be broadcast on the SOMA TV cable and FIOS channels.