Hauppauge School Board Votes To Add Armed Guards To Schools

HAUPPAUGE, NY - The Hauppauge School Board voted unanimously on Tuesday night to hire armed security guards for the district's five schools.

The new armed guards, all of whom are former local law enforcement officers, will be deployed to each of the campuses to complement the schools' current guards.

The decision comes a month after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where 17 students were killed.

The shooting sparked national debate on gun control and inspired a number of teenage survivors from the school to take up the issue in their state legislature and in Washington, D.C.

A massive school walkout is planned at high schools across the U.S. on Wednesday and additional walkouts are expected in the coming weeks.

For security reasons, the district did not release how many, or exactly where, the new guards will be patrolling.

The district states all the guards have been fully vetted, have law enforcement experience and have high levels of training.

"The times we live in require our shared concern, continued collaboration, vigilance, and proactive measures," a statement from the district reads. "This decision was not made lightly or in haste, nor is it reactionary; rather it is a reasonable and prudent extension of the safety protocols we already have in place and comes after diligent study of all available options. Our goal is always to provide the best possible educational experience for all of our children, but the first priority is, and must always be, the safety of our students."

The district has also been reviewing all safety procedures by surveying principals, teachers and community members as well as conducted lockdown drills and met with law enforcement and safety experts.

"The safety of everyone in our schools is always our primary concern," Superintendent of Schools Dennis O’Hara said. "I am proud to be part of a school district that recognizes the need for safety and is willing to take all necessary precautions. We remain steadfast in our goal to provide the best possible education in the safest environment."