Hazlet Updates After-School Safety Protocols: Officials

HAZLET, NJ - The Hazlet Township school district has unveiled new after-school safety guidelines to protect students and staff after regular class hours.

The guidance, published last month in a statement from Hazlet school officials, includes having an on-site custodian sent to a reserved room and opening the door between ten minutes before till five minutes after the organization’s scheduled arrival time.

Following that time block, the coach or an adult advisor of the organization should be available to open the door for anyone arriving late.
“The adult designee is not expected to check ID or enforce any rules, regulations or behaviors,” school officials said. “We simply ask that they permit entry only to members of their particular group in order to discourage trespassers from wandering the hallways. As always, should you “see something, say something” to either a coach, a staff member or a police officer.”
The exception: for athletic events at Raritan High School staff will allow access to anyone arriving on-time or late.

Hazlet isn’t the only school in Monmouth County to consider updated after-school safety guidelines: surrounding districts in Middletown North and South, Matawan, Keansburg and Holmdel either have similar established protocols or are in the process of creating guidelines, school officials said.

The guidance also comes with support from the Hazlet Township Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Office of School Preparedness & Emergency Planning, officials said.

“We understand that this may periodically create an inconvenience for coaches and other volunteers, but these are unusual times, and we need to be mindful of recent ongoing national events and have put these procedures in place to protect our children, our staff and the community,” school officials said.