NYC Council Expands School Safety Bill, Enhancing Security for Smaller Non-Public Schools

The New York City Council held a meeting on December 19, 2024, where lawmakers discussed initiatives to enhance safety in schools across the city. Council Member Justin Brandon highlighted the importance of ensuring that all students, regardless of their school type, have access to necessary security measures. The passage of bill 532A aims to expand a program allowing non-public schools to receive financial support for security guards, significantly broadening eligibility for smaller schools.

Brandon noted that previous legislation only permitted non-public schools with at least 300 students to qualify for reimbursements for security personnel. The new bill lowers this threshold to 150 students, allowing more schools to benefit from the program, which he described as a significant step in safeguarding children and alleviating parents’ concerns about school safety. He stressed that safety in schools should be a non-negotiable priority (Source: https://youtu.be/YlSxV552_4s&t=700).

The importance of school safety was underlined by various representatives during the meeting. Council members expressed gratitude for the support shown toward the bill and recognized the long-standing efforts to address safety issues in educational institutions. They emphasized that every child should have the reassurance of a secure environment while attending school. The legislation is also viewed as a means to create job opportunities, as it guarantees prevailing wages for security personnel, thereby fostering union jobs (Source: https://youtu.be/znM5sCs51y0&t=3846).

In a related event, Mayor Eric Adams spoke about public safety concerns affecting schools in the city. His administration has been focusing on the effects of surrounding environments on children’s safety, highlighting issues such as illegal activities near school premises. The Mayor’s approach includes collaboration between various city agencies to improve safety and address community concerns (Source: https://youtu.be/TiphmQiqSuM&t=1573).

Lawmakers at the meeting expressed a strong commitment to increasing security measures and ensuring every child feels safe in their school environment. The adoption of bill 532A marks a proactive step in the ongoing effort to enhance school safety across New York City.