D'Alessandro, who took "full responsibility" for the searches, defended herself and Director of Safety and Security John Silva in the face of calls for their resignations.

"Safety is the number one issue for this system," she said at that meeting. "I need to be proactive and find out from students if they have been intimidated or threatened and how we could help."

However, at the meeting, the superintendent expressed "regret" that not all parents were notified. "Mistakes were made," she said.

At its most recent meeting, the School Committee approved a 3-page policy on how security officials should interview or search students in the future. The policy is based on a motion brought to the Committee by members Joseph G. Grassi, Robin Harris and Simmons that was modified after parents said they were "still a lot of problems with it," Committee member Susana M. Segat said.

"We went through the motion line-by-line" and made some changes in comparison with a list of items parents proposed, Segat said. The policy will be sent back to the Committee for final approval after minor modifications.

Segat said a positive result has emerged from the turmoil of the summer.

"In terms of the searches, parents will be informed, which is a good thing," she said, adding that the security guards would "be more accountable in what they do" as a result.