Here's How Bridgewater-Raritan Schools Are Keeping Students Safe

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Student safety has always been a number one priority in Bridgewater. Now even more so following the recent shooting at a Texas elementary school.

Patch reached out to the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District and township police to find out what safety measures are in place.

The district, which includes 11 buildings, currently employs Class 3 officers from the police department. The officers are on school grounds during school hours at the schools they are assigned to by the school district, said Bridgewater Police Lt. Kevin Lamey.

The district also has a School Resource Officer(SRO) assigned to the middle school and to the high school. During off-hours and when students/parents are at a school, the district employs off-duty officers to be at the schools for any after-hour events, said Lamey.

"The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District benefits from productive relationships with the police departments in Bridgewater Township and Raritan," said Superintendent Robert Beers.

Beers said the district has also added the position of District Security Coordinator, "who works along with the local departments to enhance communication and devise a system that protects students to the greatest extent possible."

Lamey added that officers who are assigned to patrol continue to do unannounced walk-throughs of the schools that are within their patrol sector. Also when schools are closed, patrol units will conduct exterior building checks of all the schools in their patrol district.

Last year, the district also installed a camera system and swipe system that helps to monitor traffic to and from our district buildings, said Beers.

"Prior to the mass murder in Texas, we were evaluating our current security profile and are looking to make additions that will help us in the long term. Since the last event, the local police departments have worked with us to enhance coverage of our buildings," said Beers.

Police increased their presence at all Bridgewater-Raritan schools after a gunman killed at least 19 students and 2 adults at a Texas elementary school in May. Read More: Increased Patrols At Bridgewater Schools After Deadly Texas Shooting

The increased patrols will remain through the end of the school year. High School graduation and the last day of school is June 23.

On Tuesday night, the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District will be discussing school safety at its Board of Education meeting.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School - Media Center. To view the agenda click here.

"Overall, we will continue to make necessary improvements for the purpose of keeping our students and staff safe in our schools," said Beers.

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