What Do You Think Of The Nearly $29K Security Audit of Fort Lee Public Schools?

Last week two things happened in Fort Lee that prompted this week’s question of the week:

On Monday the Fort Lee Board of Education approved a proposal from a Pennsylvania-based company specializing in school security to provide a security and emergency management audit of Fort Lee’s public schools. School officials hope the $28,750 it will pay SERAPH, Inc. will result in recommendations for potential security policy changes for all six schools.

And then just two days after the board passed the resolution—on Wednesday morning—21-year-old Luis Calderon of Fairview allegedly approached two School No. 1 children walking to school near the intersection of Anderson Ave. and North Ave. in Fort Lee and offered them $5 and then a ride in his car. The next morning in the same area Calderon allegedly made the same offer to another child.

In both cases, the kids—much to their credit—did exactly the right thing, averting what could have resulted in more serious potential consequences. They refused the money and reported the incidents to school officials who alerted the police.

Fort Lee police charged Calderon Friday with two counts of harassment, saying they didn’t have enough to go on to charge him with a more serious crime.

Now we want to know what you think. What’s your take on the $28,750 security audit of Fort Lee public schools, especially in light of the events of Wednesday and Thursday? Did the alleged incident involving Calderon and at least three school children change your mind about or reinforce your support of the audit? Do you think Fort Lee schools have security issues that call for greater scrutiny?