The recent attacks in Israel have not only sparked war overseas, but tensions at home, too. Many school districts and religious-based organizations that were already in talks to increase security are now working to speed up the process.
The Syracuse Catholic Diocese oversees 21 schools in multiple counties and says safety is always its utmost concern. Some diocesan parishes and schools are now offering on-site security training and adding enhancements like security cameras, the diocese said, and a few local Catholic schools have also reached out to local towns and villages about hiring off-duty police officers to serve as school resource officers.
What You Need To Know
- Many school districts and religious-based organizations that were already in talks to increase security are now working to speed up the process after the start of the Israel-Hamas war
- Some diocesan parishes and schools are now offering on-site security training and have added enhancements like security cameras and off-duty police officers
- One private school in Fayetteville has run into constitutional issues trying to hire town employees as school resource officers
"This is a fairly new endeavor for our schools and the diocese is grateful for the open dialogue and cooperation,” the diocese said in a statement.
Immaculate Conception School in Fayetteville has been in talks for five months with the Town of Manlius to bring in a school resource officer. As the talks dragged on, members of the community urged the town to act.
"When I was driving my daughter to her first day at IC and she was scared, I said to her, ‘do you know what it means to be brave? It means you're scared of something, but you do it anyway. Because the only time you can be brave is when you're scared. And we are asking you to be brave. If you believe in this. If you want to help us, if you think it's the right thing to do, be brave and do it. If you're against us, be brave and admit it,’ ” said John Carp, a parent at Immaculate Conception.
After five months of discussions, the school ultimately agreed to bring in an off-duty officer from the Cicero Police Department. He started on Monday.
Town of Manlius Supervisor John Deer said there are constitutional issues with this. The Town of Manlius said the New York state constitution doesn't allow them to contract town employees with private entities like Immaculate Conception.
Deer would like for the state legislature to find a solution for all private schools, and he has submitted an inquiry to the New York state comptroller's office.