En field appears to be in
front of the set in its effort to place armed guards in each school.
The town council on Monday accepted
a communication of understanding with the school scheme that would place armed
officers in schools beginning subsequently school year. The proposal is expected
to price $640,000 for the first year.
It also accepted a job explanation
for the officer that specifies that the populace hired must have knowledge in
law enforcement, corrections, the armed or a connected field.
On Tuesday night, the school
board voted 5-4 in support of the communication and job explanation even though
the aspiration of some board members to wait to vote on the issue awaiting behind
Wednesday's town wide meeting on school safety.
Most of the members said they
backed the plan since it was complete and since something must be done to get
better safety in the schools.
"It's not OK to me to take
no act at the cost, or the risk, of the kids out there," said board associate
Kevin Feely Jr.
Board member Joyce Hall
disagreed, saying that armed officers will supply a false intelligence of safety.
She voted beside approving the communication.
The armed security officer plan
arose from a suggestion from the town council and school board's dual commission
on school security, which was formed after the Dec. 14 accumulation shooting at
Sandy Hook.
Several other towns are
considering security changes, from using school reserve officers to working
with confidential security firms, said Patrice McCarthy, deputy director and universal
counsel for the Connecticut connection of Boards of Education. A few have implemented
stronger security measures; others are still considering what to do and what
training might be essential, she said.
While Enfield is not the first
town to take achievement after the Newtown shootings, it is moving forward at a
quicker pace than mainly communities — a pace that some residents query given
that state lawmakers are also looking at how to get better school security, but
have not yet voted on the matter.
"Their proposal is in
keeping with what districts are at least talking about," McCarthy said,
referring to Enfield.
Glastonbury and North Branford
are among the towns that have taken new steps to get better security.
In Glastonbury, the town council accepted
funding in January for security guards at five basic schools and the
sixth-grade Gideon Welles School during the end of the school year.
Superintendent Alan B. Bookman would not say whether the guards would be armed,
explaining that he wouldn't share additional in sequence than essential.
The officers, who will patrol the
schools in accumulation to the police department's school reserve officers,
will be accountable for greeting visitors, students and employees and
controlling their entry and exit. They will also be asked to tackle illegal
people and take suitable achievement when needed, monitor the premises and
assist visitors with directions.
In adding up, they will be asked
to use "lethal physical strength" to protect themselves or others
when they sensibly believe that another person is using or about to use deadly bodily
power or impose great bodily harm.
They won't be allowed to behavior
searches or seizures, and they won't have right of entry to any student's
records. The armed officers will also not be able to store or leave a firearm
unattended on school belongings.
To help educate residents on
school security matters, the town will hold an informational meeting Wednesday
at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Enfield High School, 1264 Enfield St. At that
time, the plan to put armed security officers in schools will be discussed.
There will be a chance for municipal statement.
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