School Board Votes Against Arming Guards

The Northport-East Northport school board voted against hiring armed security guards at district schools, including Northport High School pictured above. Photo/Google Maps

By Connor Beach

cbeach@longislandergroup.com

The Northport-East Northport school board voted last month against placing armed security guards in district schools.

In a letter to the community dated Nov. 29, Superintendent Robert Banzer said the board voted against a measure for armed security on school grounds during the Nov. 28 meeting.

“This decision was not a rush judgment,” Banzer said in the letter. “It was made after months of careful, thoughtful deliberation, research and discussion with professionals from a variety of fields.”

Banzer said the board held two workshops on the issue of armed guards before last Wednesday’s vote during which they interviewed law enforcement officials, a representative from the district’s law firm and representatives from the district’s insurance carrier.

Arming school security guards has gained some traction on Long Island since the Feb. 14 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Massapequa, Hauppauge and Miller Place are among several Long Island schools district to hire armed guards to patrol school grounds.

Banzer said while the district will not be hiring armed security, the district will “continue to refine our security infrastructure and protocols.”

“Over the past 10 months, enhancements have included the addition of security vestibules in six of our 10 buildings to safely greet and screen visitors,” Banzer said. “We have increased security personnel around the entire district, with a presence at each building.”

Northport-East Northport has also joined nearly every public school district in Suffolk County in implementing the RAVE Panic Button mobile app. The app allows district staff to call 911 and simultaneously alert authorities of an emergency within school buildings at the push of a button.

In the letter Banzer also thanked members of the community for their input.

“I appreciate the passion with which many community members spoke,” Banzer said. “While there were differing viewpoints, I know we are all united in our goal of keeping our students and staff as safe as possible.”