NYC Schools Facing Security Woes Amid Concerns Over Safety Agent Shortage and Scan Protocols
Principals Demand More Resources to Protect Students and Staff
More than 120 principals from across four boroughs have signed a letter demanding the city address persistent delays at school entrances due to a shortage of safety agents and outdated equipment.
“Persistent delays at the beginning of the school day routinely undermine our efforts to create safe, welcoming, and academically challenging environments,” the leaders wrote in a letter addressed to City Council members, including Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos and Department of Education (DOE) security director Mark Rampersant.
One major issue is the stalled entry process, causing safety concerns and disruptions to the start of the school day.
“Long lines, whether during morning entry or after drills, increase frustration among students, heightening safety risks such as line-cutting and student conflicts,” the letter states.
Over 120 public school employees signed a letter demanding more resources for school safety agents and scanning equipment.
These delays lead to students arriving late or missing class altogether, impacting academics, after-school activities, and even students’ access to free breakfast programs.
One Bronx school highlights the challenges: the Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus, which houses six high schools, currently only has three stations capable of scanning 150 students every 10 minutes. The facility previously boasted 18 safety agents, but that number has been reduced to just six.
“To have enough agents at the entry points means that we have no agents on the perimeter of the building during the morning arrival … and we know that their presence protects students,” one principal revealed, highlighting the serious lack of resources.
The principal added that equipment malfunctions occur every six weeks. There are no backups, meaning theri m admissions are often stalled.
Similar issues plague other schools. An updatede
“Long lines are a problem at the”
A shortage of school safety agents is at the heart of the issue.
“The city cut agent classes in half amid budget cuts last year,” one principal lamented, “forcing faculty to perform security duties alongside teaching responsibilities;
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The DOE did not respond to requests for comment.
Among the schools negatively impacted by the consequential lack of security dedicated officials.
”The mayor and chancellor do not have a plan to provide a safe environment for our 900,000 students and 150,000 staff,” one principal said. “We have a shortage of 2,000 safety agents and there are no SSA academy classes to hire more,”
Additional
Schools have struggled to attract students, citing the time-consuming entry procedures.
Last school year alone, school safety agents seized 278 weapons, including guns and knives, plus another 3,695 dangerous instruments like pepper spray and box cutters.
One Trevor said
We have been fighting for more staffing for years,” one principal said.
a letter addressed to City Council members, including
This has forced many schools to utilize the already overworked teachers to cover safety protocols during annual school security protocol training for nm
What are the consequences of the school safety delays, as described by the guest?
## NYC Schools Facing Security Wores: An Interview
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. We’re joined today by Alex Reed, a principal at [School Name] and one of the over 120 principals who recently sent a letter to city officials demanding more resources for school safety. Alex Reed, thanks for joining us.
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** This letter highlights some serious concerns about safety delays at school entrances. Can you tell us more about what’s happening on the ground?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. We’re facing a critical shortage of school safety agents and outdated scanning equipment. This results in incredibly long lines at the start of each day and after drills, creating frustration and safety hazards for both students and staff. [[1](https://nypost.com/2024/12/07/us-news/nyc-school-principals-demand-more-safety-agents-weapons-scanning-machines/)]
**Host:** You mentioned safety hazards. What are some specific examples you’ve observed?
**Alex Reed:** We see students cutting in line, leading to potential altercations. The delays also mean students are arriving late to class, missing valuable learning time. It even affects their access to free breakfast programs.
**Host:** You mentioned the Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus as an example. Can you shed some light on the situation there?
**Alex Reed:** It’s a large campus with six high schools. They’ve gone from 18 safety agents down to only six, and the scanning equipment is insufficient for the volume of students they have. It highlights the systemic nature of this problem. [[1](https://nypost.com/2024/12/07/us-news/nyc-school-principals-demand-more-safety-agents-weapons-scanning-machines/)]
**Host:** What solutions are you hoping to see from the city?
**Alex Reed:** We’re calling on the city to increase the number of school safety agents and invest in updated scanning technology. This will help ensure our schools are truly safe and welcoming learning environments for all students.
**Host:** Alex Reed, thank you for sharing your insights and for advocating so passionately for the safety of our students and educators.
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
