East Haven May Spend $150,000 For School Security Upgrades

EAST HAVEN, CT - The Town Council, at its most recent meeting, discussed reallocating $150,000 within its capital funding account for district-wide school security upgrades and improvements.

The council held a a lengthy public hearing on the matter but held off making the transfer - stating it wanted to have a subsequent meeting with School Superintendent Erica Forti to dig into more specifics of how the money would be spent.

The measure has been suggested as an ordinance which states: “the mayor has expressed his approval of the requested reallocation and all the parties believe funding and undertaking the contemplated security upgrades and interests is in the best interest of the school district.”

Richard Huot, interim director of finance and operations for the Board of Education, said the improvements would include upgrades to school cameras, door access control and that some doors would be replaced.

He said there are at least two in every school now and there would be three in each of the elementary schools after the upgrades.

He said the camera in the school district now cover the base area and the upgrades would allow for 100 percent coverage. Huot said they expect to be adding about 35 cameras, 7 doors at the elementary and middle schools, and one school at the high school. He said right now there is four doors at the high school.

A decision was made to move the decision about school security into executive session because Town Attorney Joe Zullo advised the council that if the conversation got too specific it should be held in a private domain.

The discussion then continued in executive session.

After the executive session discussion ended, the board thanked Huot for answering their questions but voted to ask School Superintendent Forti to attend the next council meeting to answer more questions before going ahead with a vote to spend the funds.