NEWBURGH, N.Y. — When schools open tomorrow in Newburgh, they'll have a new mantra: "We are one."

"That speaks to us being united, it speaks to us being one Goldback family," said Superintendent of Newburgh Enlarged City School District Dr. Roberto Padilla. 

That family is working to build on safety and security measures in the coming year. Last year the district laid out a security plan to enhance security technology. 

"This is really a push to make sure that one we're being progressive, we're being cutting edge," said Padilla. "We have the latest technologies to support the kind of things we are trying to do." 

The district submitted plans to add additional measures like card access and visitor ID screening, one-touch lockdown technology, a command center and enhanced 911 alerts. These changes will be overseen by the district's new security director.  

"Our new director comes in with a wealth of experience in this particular area and that's what we were looking for," said Padilla.  

Right now they're still waiting on state board approval for the technology plans, but the district also added more student resources such as additional guidance counselors and social workers.

"The real purpose is to make sure that one, we build our staff capacity, but that we're also building our students in a way that they're able to say, ‘This is how I’m feeling, so I'm not throwing a desk,’" said Executive Director Equity and Access Dr. Ebony Green.  

Officials say they'll also continue to build programs at the elementary school level that address social and emotional needs.

"Building that relationship with them so that they actually feel engaged, supported, so that they can be present and open to learning is absolutely a key component to actually educating the child," said Green.  

But one thing students won't see in Newburgh: armed officers in each of the schools. 

"We're doing everything we feel we have to at this present time to keep our building secure, and right now I feel good about the direction we're going in, and that's minus an armed officer in every single building," said Padilla.  

The district will continue to have a school resource officer work primarily in high schools, but stressed they want to balance the need for safety and security with creating a welcoming environment.

"We want to be a welcoming place," said Padilla. "We want our families to come in and know that we value them in the partnership to educate their children."