North Babylon Schools Up Security After Conn. Shootings

The North Babylon School District is beefing up its security measures after a gunman shot and killed more than two dozen people, including 20 children, at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school.

School officials announced on the district's Facebook page Friday evening that all visitors to the North Babylon School District will be greeted by security personnel outside of each school prior to entering. Visitors will also be asked for identification before being allowed to enter the building. The policy will remain in effect until further notice from the district.

The North Babylon School District had a scare in October when a suspected gunman was thought to have been on the grounds of North Babylon High School. At that time, administrators immediately put the school on lockdown.

When a student reported seeing a gunman outside of the North Babylon Library across from the high school on Oct. 17, administrators took action in getting the police involved and immediately shut down all entrances into the building.

Students and staff were not allowed to move from their classrooms for about an hour until Suffolk County Police said no threats had been found.

After the police investigation, the building remained under a modified lockdown, in which students could move within the school from class to class, but not come and go from the building for the remainder of the school day.

At a North Babylon school board meeting Thursday night, district officials discussed the need for security cameras at multiple school buildings. The board will make its decision on whether or not to install the cameras at its planning session on Jan. 7.