South Orangetown Central School District

Security Staffing

At the April 18, 2023 Board of Education meeting, the District received Board consensus to proceed with the necessary steps, in partnership with the Town of Orangetown, vendors and legal counsel, to implement the following security staffing enhancements for September 2023:

  • Add 1 full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) for a total of 2 SROs.
  • Upgrade 2 security guard and 1 security supervisor positions from unarmed to armed (concealed carry). In collaboration with the District, the security vendor will draw from existing security guards assigned to District who are retired law enforcement.
  • Retain 11.5 unarmed security guards

This enables the District to increase its level of response at all four schools. The projected cost for the upgraded security staffing configuration is $1,103,000 for the 2023-24 school year.

Thank you to all the students, parents, staff and community members who have, throughout this process, submitted questions via email, participated in public commentary and attended the March 16 public feedback forum.

Infographic: School Security Decision Making Process (EN) Infographic: School Security Decision Making Process (SP)

Background

Over the past 10 months, the Board of Education has directed the District to present on its entire safety and security program and conduct research specifically pertaining to the potential enhancement of its security staffing.

The District-Wide Safety Team, and a Central Office subcommittee of the team, reviewed reports and publications from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Post School Shootings Database, U.S. Department of Justice and Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University regarding active shooter incidents and gun violence in schools.

This research led the District to consider additional staffing options to increase the level of response at each of our four schools. The three options that were identified, pending negotiations with the Town and security vendor, are listed below with additional information for consideration:

Option 1
  • 1 full-time School Resource Officer to serve district-wide, based at TZHS
  • 16 unarmed security guards on-site to cover all four schools
  • 1 unarmed security supervisor for management and on-site coverage, as needed

Considerations:

  • Current security staffing model
  • Provides 1 full-time armed staff (SRO) shared district-wide
  • Operating costs are expected to increase per annual contracts
Option 2
  • 2 full-time School Resource Officers to split coverage across four schools
  • 16 unarmed security guards on-site to cover all four schools
  • 1 unarmed security supervisor for management and on-site coverage, as needed

Considerations:

  • Provides 2 full-time armed staff (SRO) shared district-wide
  • Differences between roles of SRO and security guards
  • Budgetary increase due to addition of 1 SRO, in addition to expected increases per annual contracts
Option 3
  • 1 full-time School Resource Officer to serve district-wide, based at TZHS
  • Convert four (4) existing unarmed security guard positions and the security supervisor position (1) to armed positions to provide one (1) armed security guard at each of the four schools
  • 12 unarmed security guards on-site to cover all four schools

Considerations:

  • Provides on-site, full-time armed security staffing at each of our four schools
  • Armed security guard and security supervisor positions would be concealed carry
  • In collaboration with SOCSD, security contractor would draw from existing security guards assigned to District who are retired law enforcement
  • Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all assigned staff are appropriately licensed and certified on an annual basis
  • Budgetary increase due to upcharge of 4 existing security guards and 1 security supervisor (from unarmed to armed), in addition to expected increases per annual contracts
  • Requires revision of existing Board policy

Security staffing is just one of many components of the District’s safety and security program, which includes building and district safety plans and drills, building and district level threat assessment teams, a district-wide visitor management system, surveillance cameras, as well as secured entries and door ajar alarms.

In addition, extensive, ongoing efforts to promote a positive, welcoming and inclusive school culture–such as social emotional learning and character education programming (e.g., Start With Hello), School Support Teams, Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, Dignity for All Students Act and the Anonymous Alerts reporting–help us to identify and respond to emerging student needs and support students’ mental, social and emotional wellbeing.

 

District Presentations and Publications: June 2022 to Present

Public Feedback Forum topic overview to the community. (March 16, 2023)
Security Staffing Recommendations presentation to the Board of Education. (January 12, 2023)
Safety and Security Overview presentation to the Board of Education. (October 20, 2022)​
Back-to-School Safety Update e-blast regarding key safety and security projects in progress sent to staff, families and community members.​ (August 30, 2022)
Guide to the School Year publication containing safety procedures and emergency response protocols mailed to all South Orangetown residents.​ (August 22, 2022)
District-Wide Safety Plan (August 2022)
Safety and Prevention Overview presentation to the Board of Education (June 16, 2022)

Additional Resources

In response to presentations by the District-Wide Safety Team, community members have shared additional resources with the Board of Education which highlight negative impacts on students related to security and law enforcement presence in schools. Sources for recent publications linked below. Please note that additional resources were shared but are not publicly available as they required subscription/membership.

ACLU Pennsylvania
Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Journal of the American Medical Association Network
K-12 School Shooting Database
Poynter Institute

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The following resource was developed with questions emailed to the Board of Education and those submitted via the Google Form for the March 16 feedback session. A link was emailed to via SchoolMessenger e-blast on March 10. Please note that certain questions cannot be answered without compromising school security.

Why is the District considering increasing the level of school security staffing now?
Following the May 2022 tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the then Superintendent directed District administrators to present on its entire safety and security program at the June 16, 2022 Board of Education meeting.

At the August 15, 2022 Board meeting, the Board directed the Districtwide Safety Team to conduct a review of the District’s program to include the potential enhancement of its security staffing.

On October 20, 2022, a second presentation was made to the Board of Education.

Following the October 20 presentation, the Board requested that the Districtwide Safety Team present its recommendations for enhancing school security to the Board on January 12, 2023 in alignment with the 2023-24 budget development process. In preparation for the January 12 presentation, the Districtwide Safety Team explored security staffing options, in addition to other measures (such as enhancements to door ajar alarms, cameras and professional development) that would increase the level of response at our schools.

What evidence is there that increasing the level of response with additional SROs or an armed guard at each school would prevent or stop a school shooting?
In response to the Board’s request to research enhancement of security staffing, the Districtwide Safety Team, and a Central Office subcommittee of the team, reviewed reports and publications from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Post School Shootings Database, U.S. Department of Justice and Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University regarding active shooter incidents and gun violence in schools. The data indicates that the number of incidents continues to rise nationwide and that schools with students at all grade levels are impacted. This research led the District to explore additional staffing options to increase the level of response at each of our four schools.

SOCSD has had experience with an armed intruder. In 2009, the District’s then-superintendent forcibly disarmed a gunman who entered his office. Approximately one year later, there was a second incident involving a gun scare and subsequent attempted carjacking at our middle school. There was a full law enforcement response to both incidents.

Due to the potential variability of a number of conditions in an emergency situation, local law enforcement is unable to provide the District with an estimated response time. Having an armed security presence at each school would provide capacity for an immediate response.

Researchers acknowledge the inability to measure deterred shootings. Regardless of what decision the District makes regarding staffing, there is no way to guarantee that an incident will not occur.

Some research studies have linked school security/law enforcement to negative impacts on students. How would the District prevent and/or address potential negative impacts?
In research conducted on the impact of law enforcement/armed guards and school climate conducted by organizations such as the Annenberg Institute at Brown University and published by institutions including the ACLU Pennsylvania and Journal of the American Medical Association Network, which identified negative impacts based on public data for schools in their respective samples. These negative effects include a “greater likelihood of justice system involvement for youth” (ACLU Pennsylvania), increased likelihood of “exclusionary discipline” (ACLU Pennsylvania) and “more suspensions, expulsions, police referrals and student referrals–and those harsher disciplinary punishments disproportionately fall on Black students, male students and students with disabilities” (Annenberg).

The principal has sole authority to suspend students; the School Resource Officer is not a part of the school discipline structure within the District. Only those incidents which are criminal in nature are referred to law enforcement.

All New York State schools are required to submit data regarding incidents to the NYSED Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting (VADIR) database. VADIR data for Tappan Zee High School (below) was reviewed to identify potential trends which reflect the negative effects reported in research by comparing the period before and after the District entered its partnership with the Orangetown Police Department for a dedicated, full-time School Resource Officer in August 2018. Although the SRO serves the entire District, the position is based at TZHS.

School Year Total incidents reported to the New York State Education Department Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting database School Related Arrests Out-of-School Suspensions Expulsions
2015-16 23 not available 27 0
2016-17 26 not available 24 0
2017-18 13 0 32 0
2018-19 12 0 34 0
2019-20* 7 0 10 0
2020-21* 2 0 6 0
2021-22 10 0 20 0

*Schools closed in mid-March for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year and operating on hybrid model during most of the 2020-21 school year

Administrators and School Support Teams monitor disciplinary outcomes on an ongoing basis. There is no evidence of disproportionate use of exclusionary discipline (out-of-school suspensions and expulsions) for any subgroup.

How much does each of the options under consideration cost?
As recommended by the Board of Education, an additional $200,000 has been allocated in the draft 2023-24 budget for the enhancement of security staffing.

What other areas of the budget will be impacted in order to allocate funds for this?
Funding is not being made at the expense of other programs.

What are the current roles of the School Resource Officer, Security Guards and Security Supervisor in SOCSD?

School Resource Officer role:

  • New York State licensed police officer who is screened, trained and employed by the Orangetown Police Department
  • Serves as the District’s primary liaison with the Orangetown Police Department for incident management and training
  • Possesses specialized knowledge of the law, local and national crime trends and safety threats, people and places in our community, and the local criminal justice system which make the SRO a valuable member of our District teams when it comes to child and family welfare, facilities management, school safety procedures and emergency response preparedness
  • The National Association of School Resource Officers considers it a best practice to use a “triad concept” to define the three main roles of school resource officers: educator (i.e. guest lecturer), informal counselor/mentor and law enforcement officer

Security Guard role:

  • New York State licensed security guard who is screened, trained and employed by a contractor
  • Handle the flow and screening of visitors (including contractors and volunteers) to school buildings using the District’s digital visitor management system
  • Patrol the school campus and areas around the school, including unsupervised areas
  • Intervene in activities that may result in injury and encourage students to not participate in such conduct
  • Help supervise arrival and dismissal of students as well as breakfast and lunch periods
  • Help students to get to class on-time and ensure a smooth flow of traffic through the hallways
  • Assist administrators, police, fire personnel, and other emergency crews when necessary

Security Supervisor role:

  • New York State licensed security guard who is screened, trained and employed by a contractor
  • Has specific administrative responsibilities to schedule and manage the District’s security guards and employee badging
  • Provides staffing coverage, as needed
  • Serves as the District’s primary liaison with the security vendor for incident management and training

What coverage would be provided if an armed Security Guard is absent?
If the District proceeds with Option 3, the armed Security Supervisor position will serve in a substitute capacity in the event of an armed Security Guard absence.

For Option 3: How would the armed Security Guard be selected and assigned?
To recap, Option 3:

  • 1 full-time School Resource Officer to serve Districtwide, based at TZHS
  • Convert four (4) existing unarmed security guard positions and the security supervisor position (1) to armed positions to provide one (1) armed security guard at each of the four schools
  • 12 unarmed security guards on-site to cover all four schools

Considerations:

  • Provides on-site, full-time armed security staffing at each of our four schools
  • Armed security guard and security supervisor positions would be concealed carry
  • In collaboration with SOCSD, security contractor would draw from existing security guards assigned to District who are retired law enforcement
  • Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all assigned staff are appropriately licensed and certified on an annual basis
  • Budgetary increase due to upcharge of 4 existing security guards and 1 security supervisor (from unarmed to armed), in addition to expected increases per annual contracts
  • Requires revision of existing Board policy

Note: The vendor, with District approval, typically assigns guards to a post on a long-term basis, but reserves the right, again, with District approval, to reassign guards at any time based on need and/or feedback from school administration.

Would Option 3 extend coverage beyond the school day for events that take place on-site, such as sports events?
Decisions will be made regarding security needs for after school activities, including athletics events, on an ongoing, case-by-case basis.

What is the vetting, training and evaluation process for SROs and Security Guards?
The Orangetown Police Department selects candidates for the School Resource Officer position. All SROs in New York State are required to complete a 5-day, 38-hour State of New York Police Juvenile Officers Association certification. Topics include interview and counseling techniques, adolescent stress and suicide, dealing with special education students, classroom strategies, ethics and professionalism and school law updates. OPD is responsible for the SRO’s ongoing professional training, certification and evaluation. The Superintendent meets with the Chief of Police on a regular basis to review interagency partnerships and security plans.

The District’s security contractor is responsible for vetting, hiring, assigning (with District agreement), training and evaluating Security Guards and the Security Supervisor. New York State requires all persons engaged in security guard work to register and complete training as described here. In collaboration with SOCSD, the security contractor would select armed Security Guards from existing Security Guards assigned to the District who are retired law enforcement.

In the future, any training the District makes available to its employees, including diversity, equity and inclusion, will also be available for SROs and Security Guards. The District continues to work closely with local law enforcement and our security vendor on training, planning and preparation.

What, if any, difference would there be between the visibility of a firearm carried by a School Resource Officer and an armed Security Guard?
SROs are permitted to openly carry their firearms (visible). The recommendation is that, if the District proceeds with Option 3, armed Security Guards and the armed Security Supervisor would carry concealed firearms (not visible).

What other safety and security measures are already in place?
Our District works closely with local law enforcement, first responders, government agencies and other school districts to continually review, refine and strengthen our District’s capabilities for keeping our students and staff safe.

Support for Students

  • Ongoing Character Education programming, including Sandy Hook Promise “Start With Hello” program, at all schools
  • Ongoing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programming at all schools, including annual Help Card campaign, to help students develop self-awareness, self-regulation, self-advocacy and interpersonal skills
  • Transition from a Special Education to Pupil Personnel Services model in 2018 to meet the academic, social emotional and mental health needs of all students, to include:
    • School Support Teams at each school:
      • Elementary: School counselor and school psychologists at each building which include a Board Certified Behavior Analyst
      • Secondary: School counselors, school psychologists, social worker and prevention counselor at each building
    • Redesign of prevention/wellness centers at all four schools
  • Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) approach to school safety which promotes positive behavior and is preventative in nature
  • Ongoing staff professional development and student education on Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) reporting
  • Ongoing “safeTALK” suicide prevention training for staff members
  • Launch of Anonymous Alerts reporting system in 2018 as an additional way for students and families to report harassment, bullying, hazing and/or discrimination

Threat Assessment and Management

  • Ongoing training and development of Building Threat Assessment Teams
  • Ongoing training and development of the Districtwide Threat Assessment Team
  • Participation in county-wide active shooter drills
  • District is working to secure a consultant to support continual improvement of the District’s threat assessment procedures and process
  • Board of Education policies, including Policy 8130 – School Safety Plans and Teams

Increased Vigilance and Target Hardening

  • Annual revision of district and school emergency plans in consultation with local law enforcement
  • Staff professional development on safety plans, tabletop drills and first aid, such as CPR and “Stop the Bleed” training
  • Mandated school-wide safety drills conducted throughout the school year
  • Badging requirements for staff
  • Digital visitor management screening system at all schools since 2019
  • Security staffing: Security guards assigned to each school and dedicated, full-time Districtwide SRO since 2018
  • Security vestibules
  • Silent alarms since 2010
  • Security cameras
  • Secured entries/door ajar alarms and student/staff training
  • Districtwide exterior LED lighting
  • Upgrades to public address and lockdown systems at all schools are in progress

What are the next steps in the decision making process?
The Board of Education has communicated dates and times of Board meeting presentations on this topic and invited community members to share their thoughts throughout the past several months. The March 16 feedback session was created in response to public comment following the January 12 presentation to provide an additional, dedicated opportunity for community members to provide their feedback on this topic.

Communication regarding the feedback session–via e-blast, web and a print newsletter mailed to all South Orangetown residents–began more than two weeks prior to this event to encourage strong participation. In addition, community members were encouraged to submit questions in advance so that they could be used to compile this FAQ in advance of the March 16 feedback session.

The Board of Education continues to be committed to listening to all voices on this topic. As it determines next steps in the coming weeks, the Board will consider statements made during the public comment portion of Board meetings, District safety presentations, emails received via feedback@socsd.org and input provided by participants at the March 16 session.

What, if any, action would the Board of Education be required to implement any of the options under consideration?
Based on New York State School Boards Association guidance, SOCSD’s legal counsel recommends that the Board of Education adopt the following addition to Policy 8130, should the Board decide to proceed with Option 3: “The Superintendent of Schools is delegated the authority to make determinations with respect to those persons who may possess firearms in school district facilities in accordance with the provisions of Section 265.01-a of the New York State Penal Law.”​

What level of transparency will be provided to the school district and parents for each altercation where security personnel had to be involved?
Our building and District administrators will continue to communicate with parents and staff regarding significant incidents related to school safety in a timely manner as they occur.

Key Dates

Sunday, March 5 at 5:00PM
Deadline to submit questions via Google Form

Friday, March 10
FAQ posted on this page (scroll down to view)

Thursday, March 16 at 7:30PM
Board of Education Public Feedback Forum in the SOMS Auditorium