What there is to know
- New York City schools are implementing a door locking mechanism to increase student safety at more than 1,000 schools.
- The city’s Department of Education accepted a $43 million contract that would place camera door closers in 1,300 buildings. For now, the front door of these facilities will have technology.
- The mechanism was piloted by PS 28 in Queens, something Principal Robert Quintana is proud and optimistic about as an added safety measure for his students.
NEW YORK – New York City schools are implementing a door locking mechanism to increase student safety at more than 1,000 schools.
The city’s Department of Education accepted a $43 million contract that would place camera door closers in 1,300 buildings. For now, the front door of these facilities will have technology.
The mechanism was piloted by PS 28 in Queens, something Principal Robert Quintana is proud and optimistic about as an added safety measure for his students.
“It allows us to see who is entering and who is not entering. You can’t put a price on time,” he said.
Quintana asked to improve security at her school after someone broke in last fall.
“We had an intruder in the building. Luckily I was able to stop him,” he said.
However, not everyone is happy with this measure.
“What’s stopping someone else from holding (the door) open with their foot or something?” Said Steve Frankel of Corona.
But the parents our sister network NBC 4 New York spoke with seem calm.
“I like the camera,” Miriam Ortiz said, adding that she felt more secure.
Mark Rampersant, school safety officer for New York City, the nation’s largest school district, shared with NBC 4 New York how he would respond to critics questioning the cost or effectiveness of a lockdown system. doors in all schools.
“I’m sorry a lot of people think it’s not worth having; it’s another layer of security added to our wonderful school system,” he said.