Walcott to Review School Safety Procedures in Wake of Missing Autistic Teen

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said he would order a review of school safety procedures following the October disappearance of autistic Rego Park teen Avonte Oquendo, NY 1 reported.

Oquendo, who cannot communicate verbally, was last seen on Oct. 4 after leaving Long Island City’s Center Boulevard School.

The youth’s family has filed a claim to sue the city and the school on the grounds that Oquendo was not properly supervised.

Walcott said that he is considering the use of more security cameras, public address systems and, possibly, panic buttons at city schools, NY 1 reported. Also, teachers who work with special needs students may get additional training.

An attorney for Oquendo’s mother released a statement responding to Walcott’s proposed procedures.

“Obviously, the family and I don’t want to put a damper on any effort to prevent this from happening to another child but clearly, for Avonte, it is too late,” the statement read. “Some of the measures seem obvious and intuitive, but based upon what happened, perhaps, they needed to be spelled out. It is also unclear what is new and what are merely the prior rules re-emphasized.”

Currently, there is a more than $90,000 reward for information leading to Oquendo’s safe return. Last week, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez joined the search for the missing teen.

Oquendo is five-feet-three-inches and 125 pounds. He was last seen wearing a grey striped shirt, black jeans and black sneakers.

Anyone with information on the case should contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS.