Northport-East Northport Votes Against Armed Guards At Schools

There will be no armed guards patrolling Northport-East Northport schools.

School board trustees on Wednesday voted against placing armed security personnel inside district buildings, Superintendent Robert L. Banzer announced in a letter to the community.

"This decision was not a rush judgment; it was made after months of careful, thoughtful deliberation, research and discussion with professionals from a variety of fields," Banzer wrote.

Following numerous school shootings this year— most notably the Stoneham Douglas High School shooting that left 17 people dead in February— school safety became a concern all across the nation. Some thought armed guards at schools could solve the issue.

Despite making the choice to not add armed guards, Banzer says the district has made various school security improvements over the past 10 months, including:

• The addition of security vestibules in six of 10 buildings to screen visitors. The remaining buildings will have this addition by the summer.
• Increased security presence with personnel at each building.
• Conduct building-wide emergency drills such as lockdowns, shelter in place and fire drills.
• A RAVE Panic Button mobile app that is in the process of being implemented. The app allows school personnel to call 911 and alert authorities at the push of a button.
• Provide ongoing emergency crisis staff training.
• Make efforts to further support the social-emotional well-being of students with a number of programs.
• The future addition of a student assistance counselor, who will provide an overview of social-emotional programs for students as well as emotional support and tips for parents.
• Emphasize the "See Something, Say Something" policy.

Before declining the proposal, the school Board held a workshop that reviewed the impact armed guards at schools have on the well-being of students and staff.

• Do you think the district made the right choice? Sound off below.

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