$15M In Anne Arundel School Safety Upgrades, More Police Proposed

ANNAPOLIS, MD – A $15 million proposal made Tuesday would add school resource officers and upgrade Anne Arundel County Public Schools to improve safety, say leaders who will forward the measure to the County Council for approval.

The provisions come in the wake of the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 students and teachers. President Trump called a Florida sheriff's deputy a coward for not going into the high school where the shooter was firing, and arming teachers took center stage among strategies to keep students safe. An Anne Arundel County Police officer pledged he would do whatever was needed to save the kids at his school after threats of violence aimed at Northeast High School in Pasadena drew extra officers to school buildings in the county last week.

But Northeast's school resource officer, Cpl. McAdams, said students and parents shouldn't worry, because he's got this. The officer took to Facebook to share some thoughts. "They are not only your kids, they are my kids too," McAdams said. "I will do whatever I need to do to negate any threat that comes our way."

No child should ever fear going to school in Anne Arundel County, said County Executive Steve Schuh in a news release. “Working with Dr. Arlotto and the board, our administration will propose funding the needed staff and school upgrades that will keep our children safe.”

Board of Education President Julie Hummer, Superintendent George Arlotto, and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare joined Schuh in saying the measure would protect the school system’s more than 82,000 students from harm.

SEE ALSO: 'They Are My Kids Too' Anne Arundel Officer Pledges To School

The $14.8 million proposal will fund:

• 20 additional school resource officers, enough to station one at every county high school and middle school
• More than 1,500 cameras for schools
• Lock upgrades for 4,000 doors in county schools
• Double-door security systems at all high schools in the county
• Protective tactical equipment for every school.

The plan would be paid for over two years. The county expects that some of the costs of these initiatives will be defrayed by state money.

“Our partnership with the county Police Department has been held up as a national model, and this is one more way in which we will continue to work together to help keep our children safe,” Hummer said.

“There is no greater duty that we have than to help ensure that the students entrusted to us are safe when they enter our buildings, said Arlotto. "SROs give provide more eyes and ears as students move about our buildings, and the double-entryway system – which we are installing in all new and renovated buildings – is a huge enhancement to the security of our facilities.”

Arlotto also announced that the school system will reinstitute its School Safety and Security Council. The council is comprised of school, county, law enforcement, and community officials, as well as parents and students, and makes recommendations on school safety measures.

The superintendent also said schools will be asked to make space available for patrol officers to use on down time in between calls so that those officers can provide additional presence in the county’s 120-plus school facilities.

"We are committed to working in partnership with our schools to provide the needed deterrents to violence," said Chief Altomare.

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