Increased Patrols At Basking Ridge Schools After Deadly Texas Shooting

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — There will be an increase in police presence at all Bernards Township schools after a gunman killed at least 19 students and 2 adults at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday.

"We are deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy that occurred at an elementary school in Texas today and we know you join us in sending your condolences to the families and school community of Uvalde, Texas. As we try to process the events of today, we also want to take a moment to reassure you of our commitment to the well-being and safety of all students and staff in Bernards Township," said Bernards Township Assistant Superintendent Sean Siet.

While there is no local threat, the district has spoken with the Bernards Township Police Department and they will have an increased presence at all of the schools over the next several days.

Our district is committed to maintaining proper protocols for student safety and security:

• Emergency plans are maintained at every school location.
• The district utilizes a combination of interior and exterior security cameras, buzz-in systems, and visitor sign-in procedures to control building access.
• Our Director of School Security works with the school resource officers provided by the Bernards Township Police Department to coordinate our safety plans and protocols in all of our schools.
• All emergencies, including medical emergencies, are responded to with a coordinated effort between school administration, school health offices, local police, fire, and emergency responders.
• All Bernards Township schools regularly practice emergency security drills in accordance with state-mandated regulations and every school has a crisis management team.
• District administrators are well equipped to communicate with not only office phones but also cell phones and walkie-talkies.
• In an emergency, the district can communicate to the public through School Messenger Communicate, Genesis blasts, the district website, and an assortment of radio and television venues.

Additionally, the district offered a link with a selection of materials that parents may find helpful in working with children to deal with traumatic events. The school counseling staff and/or case managers are also available to further support any students or families who may need assistance.

Bernards' actions follow in line with Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who said that New Jersey State Police will ramp up their presence at the Garden State schools where troopers are the primary law enforcement.

All 21 New Jersey county prosecutors have also been instructed to increase local police presence at schools in their jurisdictions. Read More: More Police To Patrol NJ Schools After Texas Shooting, AG Says

All of this follows the Texas shooting, which is the deadliest at a U.S. elementary school since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. It also comes four years after a gunman killed 10 people in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in the Houston area. Read More: Texas School Shooting: 19 Children Killed In Uvalde

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