BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS JOINS PARENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS TO DEMAND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SCHOOL SECURITY FUNDING
As National School Safety Debate Continues, Charters in Private Space Remain Only Schools in NYC Responsible for Meeting Own Security Costs
Brooklyn – As school safety continues to dominate national headlines, the New York City Charter School Center (“Charter Center”) today joined Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, New York City Councilmen Antonio Reynoso and Robert Cornegy, and parents and educators from across the charter sector to demand our city provide equitable access to school security guard funding for every school.
Public charter schools that have already assumed the burden of paying for private space are the only schools in New York City – public or private – that, regardless of enrollment size, are left to fend for themselves for building security. These schools, serving over 42,000 students citywide, are forced to take money and resources out of the classroom to provide the basic security every other school enjoys – including the City’s wealthiest schools.
Local Law 02-2016 created a reimbursement fund with taxpayer dollars for non-public schools with over 300 students to cover the cost of keeping their school facilities safe through contracts with private security firms. Charter schools in private space were left out of the deal. Recently introduced Intro 70, sponsored by Councilman Chaim Deutsch, would revise that law by eliminating the minimum enrollment threshold. As currently written, Intro 70 would once again leave charter schools to fend for themselves.
“Every child deserves to feel safe at school,” said James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center. “I’m proud to stand with parents, educators, and elected officials today to demand a new direction for our city – one that gives every school the tools it needs to protect our city’s students.”
“All of our children deserve to be safe. Students should be learning math, not massacre. Our tax dollars should support all of our children. A crazed gunman doesn’t care how big a school is before they attack. I ask the City Council to pass an expanded law that ensures all schools in our city can cover the cost of security to keep their facilities safe,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
“New York City can no longer afford to play favorites with our students’ security,” said City Councilman Robert Cornegy. “By rallying with charter parents and educators today, I’m proud to take a stand for student safety and great public education.”
The nearly 1,000 students at Northside and Williamsburg charter high schools should receive the same funding for security that the rest of my district enjoys. They are all our kids,” said City Councilman Antonio Reynoso.
NeQuan McLean, President of CEC 16, said, “There are no ‘others’ when it comes to the security of students and no school should have to choose between safety and instruction.”
“There are no students whose safety is worth more or less than another. Amending Intro-70 to cover charter schools in private space is the right thing to do,” said Oma S. Holloway, Chair of the Education and Youth Committee of Community Board 3.
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