Heights Schools Wait to Spend Funding Towards Security

Money has been allocated towards security improvements, school officials say, but no decisions on how those funds would be used will be made until the recommendations are in from the outside consulting firm which is currently reviewing the district's current plans.

While presenting the 2013-2014 budget to the public last week, Mark Porto, Hasbrouck Heights schools superintendent told parents planning to improve secrurity is something that was in the works long before the Connecticut tragedy.

About $70,000 has been put aside for upgrades but the district won't determine how the money will be used until the assessment is complete, said Porto.

A group of parents who have come together over the past few months, Hasbrouck Heights Parents for Safe Schools, continue to lobby for a School Resource Officer, a police officer who would be stationed at the schools all day.

No decision regarding SROs have been made yet, said Porto. If it the Board were to pursue  implementing officers at schools as a security option, Porto said it would be in the best interest to present it to the entire community via referendum. It's something that would need the full support of the community, he explained.

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Parents heard a presentation from members of CDI the team of experts hired to conduct the security review Thursday night. The Board expects to receive a completed report sometime next month.