The Ramsey Board of Education has hired former Upper Saddle River Police Chief, and Ramsey resident, Michael Fanning, as the district's first school safety and security director, according to a report in northjersey.com.
Since the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut, in December that took the lives of 20 children and six educators, many school districts have been reviewing their safety plans. According to officials, included in Ramsey's safety plans was the hiring of a full-time school safety and security director and the installation of a security camera system at the high school. The district purchased the security camera system for $325,000 with capital reserve funds. Fanning's salary is $45,000 and does not include health benefits. As a retired law enforcement officer, he has a permit authorizing him to carry a handgun.
Fanning, a lifelong resident of Ramsey, is a volunteer football coach and a substitute teacher in the school district. In his role as school safety and security director, he will report directly to the Vice Principal at the high school, officials said.
"We need to be cognizant of the security and climate of our schools," Murphy told northjersey.com. "In that regard, Fanning is a win-win. He knows the students and staff, so the climate has not changed; in fact, it’s enhanced."
According to officials, although Fanning will be primarily assigned to the high school, he will be making visits to the other school facilities as well.
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