North Branford Schools in "Final Leg" of Arming Security Officers

Superintendent Scott Schoonmaker said that North Branford Schools are in the “final leg” of the process of arming the security guards that were put in place in the beginning of February in the wake of the Newtown shootings.

As stated in a past article, the guards replaced the constant police presence that was maintained at the schools since Dec. 14 and account for part of the Board of Education's requested budget increase.

While some have raised concerns that the guards are not yet armed, Schoonmaker said the district is following the process defined by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of the State Police Special Licenses and Firearms Unit.

“We are following all of the procedures required for us to secure firearms for our security guards,” he said. “We want to do it the right way.”

The weapons had been on back-order due to “higher demand since Dec. 14,” according to Schoonmaker, and arrived on March 18. Now that the weapons are here, Schoonmaker is expecting the final documents to be in place shortly and the guards’ training to take place shortly after.

“We are way ahead as far as having security in place,” said Schoonmaker. “I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback [regarding the new security officers]. They’ve been assisting with mock lockdowns and very helpful in educating the staff and the students.”

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More on North Branford School Security

• Schoonmaker: “We Have to Pray for Those Families and Remember Them” (Dec. 14, 2012)
• Letter: Schoonmaker on Students Returning to School (Dec. 16, 2012)
• School Security Officers needed for North Branford Schools (Jan. 8, 2013)
• North Branford Residents Discuss School Security (Jan. 14, 2013)
• Town Council Approves Hiring of Armed Security Officers for North Branford Schools (Jan. 24, 2013)
• Meet North Branford Schools' Six New Security Officers (Feb. 1, 2013)
• 2.66 Percent Increase Proposed for North Branford Schools; 2.51 Mill Rate Increase Proposed for Town (March 19, 2013)