Much Stricter Security At Hazlet Schools As School Year Begins

HAZLET, NJ — As the new school year begins, there are several new security upgrades in place at Hazlet Twp. public schools, NJ.com reports:

• The district is currently in the process of installing double-entry vestibules at all eight schools.
• Visitors, once vetted, will be escorted through the hallways to their destination.
• Parents who are bringing items to their children will not be allowed into the classrooms; they have to leave them in the vestibule.
• Hazlet is also looking into hiring Class III officers to patrol the schools. These Class III officers are not security guards, but they are not regular municipal police officers, either: They are usually retired police officers who are licensed to carry a gun. So they would have a gun inside school buildings each day. They must be under 65 years old and undergo required training. They may work no more than 20 hours a week, and are not entitled to health insurance or a pension.

They would not replace school resource officers, who are specially trained full-time police officers stationed at some schools.

Shutterstock photo