Schools

Cops in Schools Costs Marlboro School District $100,000 for 90 Days

The decision to put armed guards in schools is coming out of the Board of Education general fund.

The Marlboro Board of Education told Patch on Wednesday that the decision to temporarily place officers in every school will cost the district an estimated $100,000 for 90 days.

Sharon Witchel, Director of Special Projects, Grants, and School/Community Relations said the money will come out of the district's general fund.

"During the 90-day period, the district will review current safety and security practices and determine future improvements, which will include fiscal considerations," Witchel said.

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The decision to have armed guards in every school came to fruition in the wake of the Newtown, CT school shooting which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults on Dec. 14.

While the township has digital security measures in place, including a Visitor Management System which scans drivers licenses of any school visitors and checks names against local, state and national databases; the Board of Education is now teaming up with the Marlboro Police Department to add bodies with guns to school front doors.

Find out what's happening in Wallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

New security protocols were ironed out over the holiday break, and implemented as of Jan. 2. 

Board President Michael Lilonsky said in a statement issued on Dec. 20, "The District’s administrative team met with the Police Chief Bruce Hall over a two-day period to effect a cost-effective plan to place armed, uniformed, Marlboro policemen in our schools effective from the beginning of each school day to the end of that day, or seven hours, beginning Jan. 2, 2013."

Last year, the board and public approved a . Superintendent Dr. David Abbott said 85 cents on of every dollar is generated through tax revenue, which makes up 80.2 percent of the budget. Almost 15 percent of the budget is comprised of state aid.

During and after 90 days, the township will conduct a security assessment and come back with suggestions of how to improve school security in the district. It will then be decided if having officers in every school will continue.

 


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