New York Board of Education Approves $43 Million School Door Locking System Despite Members’ Concerns

New York City schools will soon be able to lock their front doors thanks to new camera and buzzer systems rolling out to five boroughs.

The Education Policy Group approved a $43 million contract with Symbrant Technologies Inc. on Wednesday night, removing the final hurdle to the technology’s adoption, first announced in the mayor’s provisional budget last month.

A security system designed to prevent unwanted visitors from entering school buildings is deactivated at normal arrival and departure times. Many families and unions have called for the use of the devices following the Uvalde, Texas elementary school shooting last year.

But while some parents and staff celebrated the increased safety, others wondered if the costly project, which is expected to be worth $78 million upon completion, is the best use of the money to address the recent spate of after-school violent episodes.

“I really want our approach to be thoughtful,” said Tom Sheppard, who represents Bronx parents on the commission. “If the problems that occur around our schools, I have questions about whether this door locking system will help solve this problem.”

New York City schools will soon be able to lock their front doors thanks to new camera and buzzer systems rolling out to five boroughs.

The city will spend about $30,000 to equip each school building, said Assemblyman Mike Reilly, who has campaigned for security for more than a decade. The money will go towards equipment, cabling and installation, according to filings submitted to the board.

Most of the funding will come through the mayor’s office, while the rest is already in the department’s investment plan to improve school safety and security, commissioners said.

“These reasonable measures will certainly strengthen our first line of defense to keep our school community safe,” said Robert Quintana, Principal of Public School 28 in Corona, Queens, Preschool through Second Grade. “As a father of three and as a director, this is the only commodity that is priceless.”

This fall, an intruder broke into PS 28 and tried to break into the classrooms upstairs. The man was blocked by a school security guard and a martial arts-trained principal. Two days later, Quintana joined a pilot program to install a door lock system.

But while several buildings across the city were to participate in the pilot project, only a few schools had the system up and running before the commission received the contract.

This has left some participants with lingering questions – from whether students with limited English or disabilities will be able to access the school building, to whether large schools will inevitably skip most people to keep up with more students and staff. during the day.

“We asked questions, but we didn’t get a chance to get answers,” said Sheri Gibson, a commissioner appointed by the Queens County president. “I’m not saying the system isn’t the answer. I’m saying you didn’t give us a chance to find out.

Chancellor of Schools David Banks proposed to delay the vote, but most of the participants decided to proceed with the contract that night.

“I don’t sleep at night when I watch national TV programs about people who come to our schools and shoot at the school. That’s what we were trying to deal with,” Banks said. “It’s the one thing I couldn’t deal with myself as a father of four and in charge of this system.”

The contract was passed by a committee composed primarily of those appointed by the mayor, with 15 votes in favor and six abstentions. Another agreement will be presented to the board ahead of October, when the current terms will expire.

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