The Marlboro Police Department and the Board of Education announced on Thursday that all township schools will have armed officers present throughout school days.
"The protocols for these policemen are being written during the winter break with key input provided by police and school district administrators," said Board President Michael Lilonsky.
Officers will also have access to a digital monitor which will project images of the interior and exterior of schools.
Mayor Jon Hornik said the funding and decisions regarding school security are up to the Board of Education, but the mayor's office and the township council will have suggestions.
"It's going to be expensive," Hornik said. "But I think it's definitely worth paying."
As of now, township schools have two school resource officers. One officer floats among elementary schools and one around the two middle schools. Volunteer PTO members are also stationed at front doors to check visitors in.
"We are not yet equipped for a situation like Newtown," Hornik said.
Police Capt. Bart Lombardo said reports have come from Newtown, CT that the gunman shattered a large window to gain access to the schools. The police department the board are currently looking into shatterproof glass for the schools, and are considering hiring a third party vendor to conduct a district security assessment.
Marlboro Township schools at the K-8 level are currently equipped with a Visitor Management System. The system is able to scan identification and check school visitors against the sex offender registry and school-created parent lists. It can also print visitor badges with photos.
Marlboro High School already has a full-time school resource officer in place during school hours.
"The tragedy last Friday changed the way we look at school security forever," Hornik said.
http://www.moremonmouthmusings.net/2012/12/23/marlboro-to-post-cops-at-schools/
There are many options, and yes do nothing is a choice. They could put unarmed police in the school, as does NYC et al. They could change out the doors. The could hire counselors trained to work with troubled youths and get to the root of the issue. There are many choices that can and should be discussed but rather they chose without any public discussion to put armed police in the schools. It is not as if there was no time as it would have been nearly a month between the shooting in Newtown and when the kids return in January. The Mayor however chose to spend his time doing interviews with NBC news, CBS news, news12 new jersey and the New York post rather than address his constituents directly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFTbTkaCdpk&feature=youtu.be
https://www.facebook.com/MarlboroK8SchoolDistrictNotifications?fref=ts
The Mall Shooter out in Washington shot himself after an armed citizen took aim at him. Just look at the preferred targets in the majority of these instances: All Gun Free zones and I'll bet the mall shooter didn't count on encountering an armed citizen. Regardless, gun control doesn't work and no one wants to explore any options regardling the insane individuals who are responsible for these atrocities. What I DO know, is there are millions of gun owners NOT responsible for this crap and there are millions of AR-15's NOT involved in them either. The gun (or the knife or the car or the bomb) cannot commit the crime all by its self.
What do you think the answer is?