The above article says the community has gained some support on the Colts Neck/Marlboro Patch page. I totally disagree! More readers are against it than for it. They're against the idea that there was no public discussion on this matter, and who and how much will be expected from the taxpayer's to fund this folly.

This is simply not the solution. Columbine had an armed security officer in that school–and obviously that was proven to be ineffective. Fort Hood is patrolled by military police and civilian Department of Defense police–that was proven ineffective when Major Hassan killed 11 and wounded so many more. Virginia Tech, the school with the largest killed, has a campus police force larger than most New Jersey towns–again, ineffective.

I hold the Marlboro K-8 TOTALLY responsible for this. If they don't conduct their fiduciary responsibilities---THERE OUT!!

"THERE OUT" ahaha perhaps you should check you'reself in. But hey if anonymous says so, the BOE should shaking in they're boots. ROFLMBO

There was a meeting about it. Did you go there and speak out against it? The YouTube doesn't show that.

As I've said before, putting untrained officers into a school with regular holsters is a disaster waiting to happen. We used to have DARE officers in the schools. These officers were highly trained and had special holsters, and there was never a problem. But these two rent-a-cops that they're hiring, who don't normally carry a gun, let alone carry a gun around children, is absolutely the worst way to go about this.

The app said that off duty Marlboro officers will be used, not retacops

My apologies. The News Transcript article I read this morning referred to what Manalapan was doing, not Marlboro. Manalapan hired 2 part-time "Special Class II" police officers, who "received police academy training, are authorized to carry a gun, and have full police powers". This is what I was referring to.

I can't find that article in the APP. Can you please post a link?

Arm the kids as well, just in case the cop or teacher goes on a rampage.

If you're going to do this, you have to do this right. First, no police without very specific training and equipment should regularly be in schools. Second, a single police officer is inadequate because the suicidal maniac will always have the drop on that single officer. There should be no less than 3 so that vacations and breaks and lunch don't present a logistical problem and they have backup. Secondly, if the goal is to keep the maniac away from the kids, the buildings need to have an interior bullet proof area installed and either pat downs or metal detectors. Finally, recognize that we're only moving the problem around. If the goal is to kill large numbers of people, there are lots of good places to do that including large restaurants, malls and shopping centers, places of worship, school buses, outdoor lineups of kids, etc. I see no reason to pick and choose. It's not that I find it a bad idea, simply a knee jerk inadequate response.

This is from my School Union President: According to the Nati*onal Center for Educa*onal Sta*s*cs, there are 98, 817 public schools in the US ( 2009-2010 data). There were 33.366 private schools as well, for a total of 132,183 schools in this country. According to the Los Angeles Times, in an ar*cle dated Dec 15, 2012, there were 11 mass shoo*ngs in public schools. Eleven out of 98, 817 public schools is 0.011131%. It’s even less if you include all schools, public and private. According to Mother Jones, an independent news online organiza*on, there have been at least 62 mass shoo*ngs in the U.S. in the last thirty years. These stats include workplaces, movie theaters, malls, government buildings, military bases, as well as schools. Even if all 62 of these heinous acts were carried out at schools, the statisitics would s*ll be 0.046904% for all schools, public or private. I’ll take those odds. I have to, or I wouldn’t be able to convince myself to ever leave my house and go to work tomorrow.

Have you all gone to the mall the past few weeks? Why there are cops there and there was a mass shooting at a mall in Oregon? What about the movie theater? We cannot live in fear. Yes people kill, but they are killing with the same guns. Make them illegal! Even the guy who killed two firefighters and wounded two others had the same semiautomatic gun as the past three mass shootings. Don't tell me the problem is these lunatics. It is these lunatics with THESE GUNS!

An armed guard in township schools will not stop a killer armed with military grade weapons with the intent to kill. But if Marlboro is now the poster child for the NRA don't forget bars on every window along with metal detectors and don't forget armed guards at the swim club and day camps. I fear a world where guns are the answer . Is this the world we want our children to live in? I am very disappointed in the township .

The schools and the town have both said that this is a temporary thing until future plans can be hatched. To those who aren't against it that is fine. Would you do nothing? I pray that in the end it is never tested but are you willing to stand up and say no? That you don't want to spend the money? I don't know when the school board meetings is but the town council meeting is just after New Years. Why don't the outraged go there and tell them what you think.

To those who feel guns are the problem

http://www.christianaction.org.za/firearmnews/2003-2_aworldwithoutguns.htm

An old read, but still true

http://old.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopel120501.shtml

Milton, there was no discussion about this in the public school board meeting, yes I was there. It was done behind closed doors. As someone who objects to this measure, a public discussion should have been had.
Kaitlyn, yes Marlboro Police, but none trained in child physchology and let's face it local police are not what many would consider tactically trained, they are not seal team six.
Yes there are a ton of comments on the patch article as well as the marlboro k-8 Facebook page against this. There were also many on Jon Hornik's Facebook page until he deleted the negative comments a few days ago...funny he kept those that supported this measure.
I guess it just shows the character of the people in office in Marlboro that they won't stand in front of their constituents and defend them

Steve B, thanks for your enlightened and enlightening post. You're absolutely right about our elected officials. They're all the same, regardless of party. Regarding Seal Team Six, though, I don't think they're trained in child psychology either. :)

What about outside at recess?Armed officers outside as well as in?How about football games,basketball games, graduations? Just trying to point out the flaws in this plan, ban the guns, limit the damage of deranged individuals....

With all comments like these, Marlboro schools will just become a target for some psycho. Some lunatic will just try to hit the schools now to make a point. Too much publicizing of this, let it go already.

We are not getting to the root of the problem. All we are thinking of doing is reacting to the Newton Tragedy. The root of the problem is the easy access to semi-automatic weapons and easy access to guns by people who should not be in possession of the fire arms. Guns should be legal - but to what level? We require an automobile when it is sold to have a title transfer - why not the same level of scrutiny on a gun?

Matt, I agree. But mental health is also another issue as well.

It just amazes me that there happen to be $100,000.00 dollars lying around to pay these 9 police officers. It had to be taken from another program, that could further benefit the kids.

Municipal taxes will be going up as well as police officers will be taken off the road and would have to be supplanted by officers on overtime working their days off.

This is not financially sustainable in these times. I am sure school taxes will be going up when school aid to school districts get diminished in the future because Hurricane Sandy ate up all the funds earmarked for school aid--and justifiably so.

Steve I get it you want to slam the mayor..that's your right but at least stick to facts...there are only 8 schools in marlboro's k-8, there are holidays and spring break to deduct from your equation, and the money can't go from town ttreasury to the boe budget.

Paul,
All of the press releases from the BOE and the town state 9 schools not 8. From the Mayors own mouth in one of his TV appearances, listen around :25 he states 9 schools. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgfpe-n1hwg
And last I checked PO's get paid for holidays, days off, benefits, health ins etc etc etc. I just did quick back of the napkin math. I hope in tonights BOE meeting they will break down the cost fully and if I am wrong...mea culpa..

Paul and Steve--the ninth school is Marlboro High School, which is a separate Board of Ed and budget. The high school has always had a full time school resource officer, so there isn't any change for them.

At the BOE meeting it was said that officers are volunteering their own time and thusly have been compensated at a much reduced rate. It was also stated that the money is surplus and was sitting in the schools coffers from programs that had cost less than was originally budgeted