TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey schools and nonprofits continue to face security challenges, either through funding or staffing shortages, or aging infrastructure that can’t keep pace with cyber threats. A trio of bills recently introduced by Assemblyman Alex Sauickie seeks to close those gaps and make those places safer.

“The attack on a Michigan synagogue, which is also a preschool, brought this issue back to focus for so many of us,” Sauickie (R-Ocean) said. “The security team, teachers and staff prevented a bad situation from turning worse, and innocent lives were protected. They were prepared in a way that many schools and nonprofits in our state are not.”

Sauickie wants to create a New Jersey Commission on College and School Safety and Security (A4038), bringing public and nonpublic schools, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits under one umbrella to study and suggest modern protocols based on the most up-to-date data.  

Current state law requires that public school districts annually review their school safety and security plans, conduct regular safety drills and install a silent panic alarm system. By law, each school must designate a school safety specialist. They may employ class three special law enforcement officers but are not required. The most recent information on school security showed that 20% of school districts have no security personnel. Less than half of districts that employ security have armed officers.

Colleges and universities that receive federal funding fall under federal requirements such as the Clery Act, which requires those schools to issue emergency notifications and publish crime statistics.   

Nonpublic schools must hold drills and conduct safety training for staff. Although not required, they and religious institutions can access funding for security through the state’s nonprofit security grant program. Sauickie wants to expand that funding (A4066 and A4390) to increase grant amounts to hire more security personnel and purchase target-hardening equipment such as card readers, surveillance sensors and ballistic-rated glass, and increase nonpublic security aid from $205 to $338 per pupil, totaling $50.8 million.

“Safety should never come down to the haves and have-nots,” Sauickie said. “Every student should feel safe and be safe when attending class.”