Security Guards at NYC Private Schools Delayed to September

The law providing the 200,000 children who attend New York City’s parochial schools with private security guards was delayed Friday until the beginning of the upcoming school year.

A city agency was just selected by Mayor Bill de Blasio to oversee the $19.8 million program. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services issued a letter on Friday, the day it was supposed to have gone into effect, informin Richard Badillo, deputy commissioner for fiscal and business management at the DCAS, wrote that “preparations for the program that will reimburse for security services starting in September have already begun.”

The bill, which was sponsored by Councilman David Greenfield, will allow parochial schools to hire private officers and bill the city.

Greenfield said in a statement to Hamodia that he was “thrilled that the mayor has issued a directive implementing my school security law before the start of the upcoming school year.”

Schools with 300 or more students are eligible for one security guard, 500 students entitles them to two agents, with every additional 500 students getting an additional guard. The agents will be civilians and will be answerable to the schools.

Schools who want to participate must apply online. The agency will then inform them if they meet the definition of “qualifying nonpublic school” and how many guards they are eligible.

“New York is sending a clear message that every child’s safety matters,” Greenfield said. “Parents will now have the peace of mind knowing that their children will be safe in school.”g yeshivah administrators of the requirements to apply.

This article appeared in print on page 1 of the April 4th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.