Middletown Schools Get $538,389 To Install Silent Panic Alarms

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown school district is slated to receive $538,389 from the state Department of Education to install silent panic alarms and more in school buildings, all in the name of preparing for a school shooting or other dangerous event.

The funding was announced May 28 by Gov. Phil Murphy's administration.

Middletown will receive $538,389 to install silent panic alarms and other school security upgrades.

"We submitted our application for the security funds over a year ago, the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act (SOCFBA)," said Middletown Board of Education vice president Frank Capone on Thursday. "The application was approved, but no funds received yet."

These upgrades can include exterior lighting improvements, surveillance cameras installed in school buildings and classrooms, intercoms, remote locking/unlocking doors, shatter-resistant glass, signage improvements, generator installation and impact-rated vehicle barriers.

Middletown schools will definitely get the silent alarms, as that is required by law. It remains to be seen which of those above will be implemented.

This is money given out to New Jersey school districts under Alyssa's Law, which provides taxpayer funding to equip public and secondary schools with panic alarms. These alarms can directly and silently notify the police if there is a danger or emergency situation happening in the classroom.

The law is named for Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old girl who lived with her family Woodcliff Lake before they moved to Parkland, Florida.

On Valentine's Day, Feb. 14 2018, Alyssa was one of the 17 people killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. She was killed at the age of 14. Her family worked with North Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer (Democrat) to pass legislation that will now require all New Jersey schools have the silent alarms.

Many nearby school districts were in the first round of funding for the silent alarms, including Hazlet, Monmouth Beach, Keyport, Little Silver, Sayreville and Woodbridge.

Be the first to know. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com