News

Jan 29, 2024

School door lock and camera systems will roll out in May

In an effort to guard against mass shootings like the one seen in Nashville this

In an effort to guard against mass shootings like the one seen in Nashville this month, city public schools plan to start locking their front doors and identifying visitors using cameras before letting them inside.

"We intend to lock the front doors once our kids are in school, and anybody who's coming to visit the school will have to present themselves before entry is made. The doors will not be wide open for anyone to simply walk into," Schools Chancellor David Banks said Friday.

The Panel for Educational Policy approved a $43 million contract earlier this year, and Banks says the technology will be rolled out starting next month with plans to have it in place at all schools the following spring.

"We’re going to start this process in May. We’re starting with elementary schools first. It's going to take place over a number of months and so we certainly want to have all of our schools outfitted with this new technology by the spring," Banks said.

Banks gave the update during a briefing helmed by his brother, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, who has been hosting a series of virtual briefings where New Yorkers can submit questions for him and other officials.

The system will require anyone visiting after the school day has begun to ring a bell and identify themself to a school safety agent, who will buzz them inside once they’ve confirmed they have business at the school.

"This is not a system that we’re employing to keep our parents out of our building. This is a system that we’re employing to keep any ill intentions from accessing our school buildings," Mark Rampersant, chief of safety and prevention partnerships for the education department, said.

Much of the recent violence that has targeted students has actually happened outside of schools, which the chancellor acknowledged this system won't prevent.

Some have raised concerns the system will mean students who are victims of violence outside of schools are not able to find safe haven within them.

Banks says no system can account for every potential problem.

"If there's a young person who's in some level of distress, that safety agent, the agent at the front door, is going to see that and they’re going to respond to that. That’ll be part of the training," he said.