Year Since Law: 64 Yeshivos Have Free Security Guards

BROOKLYN
Councilman David Greenfield, anniversary, school security law, security guards, yeshivos
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday hands Councilman David Greenfield the pen he used to sign into law a $19.8 million measure providing for the first time security guards for yeshivos in January, 2016. (William Alatriste/NYC Council)

Councilman David Greenfield is celebrating the one year anniversary of the passage of his school security law, which pays for security guards at yeshivos.

In the law’s first year, 64 yeshivos and Jewish day schools have taken part in the program that provides free security guards for schools with over 300 students. Collectively these schools have 50,000 yeshivah students in them.

“We came together last year to agree that every child needs to be safe regardless of where they go to school,” Greenfield said. “This is one of our values as New Yorkers — we protect all of our children.”

In order to apply for security guards through the law, a non-public school needs to have at least 300 students. Schools with at least 500 students can get two guards, and an additional guard is added for every 500 students after that.

Applications for the coming school year are being accepted until May 1, about ten days after Pesach. Greenfield is urging every school to apply. About 40 percent of eligible schools did not apply for the grant, worth just under $20 million.

Greenfield said that yeshivos can get help applying at his office, 718-853-2704. The office will be staffed on Chol Hamoed.

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