West Babylon board approves armed security personnel in schools
West Babylon NY February 14 2019
Armed security guards will be deployed in West Babylon schools starting in the fall under a resolution approved Tuesday night by the school board, district officials said.
Eight trustees on the nine-member board voted in favor of a resolution allowing the superintendent to authorize security personnel to carry a firearm while on duty in the 3,800-plus student district starting with the 2019-20 school year, according to minutes of the regular meeting provided by the district. Trustee John Evola abstained.
The decision came after “months of thoughtful conversations, research, meetings with administration, conversations with our attorney, law enforcement representatives, our insurance company and other related personnel,” Superintendent Yiendhy Farrelly said in a letter to staff, parents and guardians posted on the district’s website. “Please know that despite the fact that extensive research was done, this was not an easy decision for our Board.”
