Security will be beefed up at Brookfield schools next year. About 200 residents attended a Special Town Meeting last night and approved two American Rescue Plan Act funding requests.
Superintendent John Barile made a brief presentation about hiring two more School Resource Offices for the elementary schools, and 5 unarmed security guards along with an Armed School Security Officer for after school hours at the High School. Much of the discussion was on the guards and one ASSO. Barile noted that there are people monitoring front doors now, but it's not all schoolday long.
Some residents voting no said they wanted more armed security, others said just SROs would be enough. There was one resident concerned about the cost to the town once American Rescue Plan Act funding runs out. One resident called it a lot of money for a false sense of security, adding that unarmed guards won't be able to stop an armed assailant intent on doing harm. Some called for the money to be put toward mental health services instead.
The vote for the SROs was 157 yes, 55 no. The vote on the guards and one Armed School Security Officer for after school hours at Brookfield High School was 115 yes and 98 no. The SRO allocation is $251,515. The other request was $344,718.
