Norwich — Norwich Free Academy officials will meet privately with parents Wednesday to discuss recent safety incidents, student behavioral challenges and complaints from parents about lack of communication regarding student safety issues.

Parents posted multiple complaints to the NFA Facebook page and other social media outlets last week following a 70-minute lockdown at the school Dec. 6 that led to an arrest of one juvenile by Norwich police. NFA Head of School Brian Kelly told parents the following day that the lockdown was prompted by two incidents, one involving the discovery of two facsimile pistols incapable of firing live rounds and a bullet with a plastic tip and an unrelated overheard conversation on a school bus that prompted concern.

In his letter to parents, Kelly acknowledged that the school could improve its communications and thanked parents for their input.

NFA, like many school districts throughout the region and beyond, is dealing with student behavioral issues, some attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic that forced schools into remote or limited in-person learning last year. Social media has exacerbated some problems, with students posting and reposting bullying comments, misinformation or inappropriate content.

Kelly said last week that the number of student disciplinary incidents reported to the state early this school year actually is lower than in the early months of the last pre-pandemic school year 2019-20, but it feels different this year. NFA reported 66 total disciplinary incidents involving expulsions, in-school suspensions and out-of-school suspensions to the state from Aug. 31 to Oct. 15 this year. During the same period of 2019, the total was 88. The statistics are reported regularly to the state Department of Education.

“It’s the feel, the intensity,” Kelly said. “We’re seeing it in ninth grade and 10th grade. We’re seeing community issues coming into the school.”

Kelly said arguments that originated in homes and neighborhoods and relationship conflicts from outside the school are spilling onto campus. Early in the school year, NFA had some incidents tied to the TikTok bathroom vandalism trend. But Kelly said school officials were able to stop it quickly by warning students that if they were caught damaging bathrooms, they would face suspensions or possible expulsion and maybe a criminal arrest.

Kelly said NFA is seeing effects of the pandemic on students “every day.” Students are having trouble engaging in class. Cutting classes is higher, although that’s starting to improve, he said. Students have to reacclimate to school life.

“Kids have a lack of stamina to be in a classroom the whole day long,” Kelly said. “That’s a real thing. A lot of these kids for the past 18 months have had a lot of autonomy over their daily lives.”

NFA increased the number of school counselors, restructured administrators to create two deans of students and boosted staff training in social and emotional learning. Kelly said the deans of students are working to create lasting relationships with students and address issues proactively.

Kelly said security also must be addressed for students to feel safe in their learning environment. NFA has a regular staff of full-time and part-time campus security officers. The school calls Norwich police if situations become serious.

Norwich police would not provide details of the one juvenile arrest on Dec. 6. After some students commented they did not feel safe going to school the next day, police said they increased their presence at the campus for added security.

NFA received sharp criticism on social media from parents, students and outsiders for how the lockdown was handled and how it was communicated to parents. Kelly said he welcomed constructive criticism. He said the school would conduct an internal review of the school’s policies “as they relate to all aspects of school safety.”

Kelly told parents in last week’s letter that he was unable to share specifics of the situation during the lockdown investigation.

“My commitment to you is that we will continue to improve all aspects of this process,” Kelly wrote, “from lockdown procedures to overall communication. Our number one priority is the safety of our students, teachers and staff.”

c.bessette@theday.com