The Coaster

By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI

Parents at elementary schools in Neptune Township are voicing concerns about the elimination of safety officers at the schools for the coming year.

Earlier this year Summerfield School PTO President Loretta Eichenour presented the Board of Education with letters signed by 250 of the schools families asking for the board to reconsider the move.

As a parent, it makes me uneasy in this day and age. We dont think we should be relaxing security in any way. We should be increasing it, Eichenour said.

Board President Beverly Holland said the elimination of the four security guard positions were included with 51 cuts in personnel positions.

Its going to be detrimental, when you have something and its taken away. Its always a detriment. If the budget passes next year, we will revisit it, she said.

Holland, however, does not believe security at the schools will be impacted.

The doors are locked and there are security cameras at the entrances, she said. Were doing the best we can.

Superintendent of Schools David A. Mooij agrees.

We have electronic buzzers and cameras, he said.

Mooij also said of the four safety officers let go, one was re-hired as a para-professional.

Mooij said the school was not required to seek a waiver from the state regarding the reduction of safety officers.

He said last year a representative from the Department of Education informed the district that many of the rules originally set forth regarding Abbott districts have been relaxed.

Mooij said he would like to see the positions re-instated if the funding was made available.

If we were able to get funding in a heart beat, he said.

Mooij said the cuts were only made because of budgetary concerns.

We were faced with a severe budget crisis this year, he said.

Catherine Nickens, who has three children at the Gables School and two at the middle school, said she wants the safety officers reinstated.

If they take them out of the schools, its a major mistake. How many people will be hurt? she said. Especially with the buses. The teachers cant handle all of that.

Nickens said her husband Paul collected signatures for a petition circulating in her neighborhood.

Referring to school shootings in other areas of the country, Holland said all but the shooting at an Amish school in Pennsylvania were cause by students or people already inside the schools.

Eichenour said, however, the security guard at Summerfield School plays a larger role.

I have interacted with that man every time Im in the school. He has a role beyond door monitor, I have seen him escort parents out who have gotten too loud with the principal. I have seen him counsel students with a discipline problem, she said.

Eichenour said she is afraid if students know there is not a security officer on duty at the Pre-K to fifth grade school, they may act out.

Kids may think they have free realm. They may think, We can act however we want.

Eichenour acknowledged the school does not have many discipline problems but does not want to tempt the hand of fate.

Holland said the board made its decision to eliminate the security positions after looking at surrounding towns.

We looked at other schools in the area. Ocean Township doesnt have security guards at this level, she said.

Holland also said security guards do not play a part in student discipline.

The principals are in charge of discipline, she said.

Holland also did not see the need for security guards to be involved with parents.

Our parents are not out of control, she said.

The only elementary school to retain security guards is the Midtown Community School due to the fact that classrooms are in modular trailers.

Its not secure over there, we dont want someone jumping over the fence, she said.

Holland said she has no problem considering reinstating the security guards next year if the 2008 budget passes.

Contact Joanne Papaianni at joanne@thecoaster.net.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 5:18 pm and is filed under Education, Municipal, Neptune. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.