Is this a joke?? Why don't we start with something simple like locking the doors? Nobody talks about how the shooter in ct gained access to the building in the first place. I taught in an elementary school in a town similar to newton, and the doors were never locked. This was always a serious issue for us teachers that the board and administration refused to address for some unknown reason. More guns only promote more violence. This is a ridiculous suggestion that would only cause paranoia and accidents, not to mention creating a wild west culture in our schools.

There is no one solution or quick fix to the problem. There is no guarantee that more security will eliminate this condition. Metal detectors may help to some degree, but they can be gotten around. The laws must change with the times, because society is today, and not yesterday. A precedent of Good parenting is the best defense at this point and needs to be mimicked Nationally.

Schools need Camera and High Security and an Armed Guard.

We need Security in all Schools Especially Demarest

What we need is a Meeting with Superintendent Mr Bing and get High Security on all the Schools in Bloomfield especially Demarest and the Middle Schools****

As a teacher in Bloomfield public schools I absolutely do not want to have to be armed. God forbid a student knew their teacher was carrying a gun. There are easier solutions to these problems, such as making security better in the schools. Lets start with video cameras in the entrances.

Let's have a Bloomfield Town meeting with Mr.. Bing on this issue please respond if you want a Town Meeting****

With all the Taxes we pay in Bloomfield the Schools should all have Cameras and an Armed Guard at the main entrance, In Demarest there are no cameras or guards you ring the bell then the door is open that is No Security!!!!

Absolutely, not--guns whether legal or illegal are doing exactly what they were made to do--kill-we don't want them in our schools.

Congratulations!! This is the stupidest poll of the week! I can't believe this is what you came up with...must be a slow news day..

No, lock the doors, make sure they are secured, make every kid, teacher, and visitor have a photo ID on them at all times.
There should be some kind of security on the property during sessions and activities to monitor what is going on in the school.
I think the town should let an off duty patrolman/men (yay Bloomfield Blue!) pick up some extra hours of pay looking after school security. That's the ONLY person I can see possessing a weapon. Sanction the county or state government for the cost.

I agree with JFC Lock the Doors, Force Photo Id's for all Tecahers and Sub's!!!
Get Armed Guard at the Main door and have a Security Company like ADT monitor 24 hours

Hire a Class ll Special Police Officer for the front door and implement photo ID and video Cameras. Lots of other schools have them and it works.

NO MORE TAXES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Jack Savino. Forget about the Taxes we are Talking The Safety of our Children!!!!! Do you have children in Bloomfield Schools???

Our Children's Safety is the Most Important thing and we need to Spend Whatever it Takes to Ensure their Saety. I should Run for Mayor!!!!

I meant to say "Safety"

I will be sending an email to the Superintendent of schools asking for a town wide meeting to discuss this Security issue please advise anything else...

Also, we need to have Metal Detectors at each door to prevent guns or knives to be entered in the school.In my daughter's class one student brought in 2 pocket knives and luckily the teacher caught him..it will only get Worse if we don't Prevent it now!!

Hey Lou, did you ever hear of paragraphs?.......we need camera,,,,,we need high security....we need armed guard....warning warning Mr. Robinson.

Cameras, Security doors, Armed Officers, is the best! There are Class ll Special Officers that would be great for schools. I am a homeowner/tax payer, but my children's safety is more important than money. Plenty of times I have been to Berkeley School and no one ever directed me to office or even seen that I walked in to the school. I have also seen children opening the door to strangers. It's a matter of safety, and I can tell you first hand Berkeley is not safe. now after CT they sometimes have an older fellow directing you to the office but anyone can walk to basement or straight to second floor without going to office. we have to protect our children/teachers all school personnel.

FYI: Teachers having guns not a good or smart idea.

You are correct we cannot wait we need security noe. When I meet with Mr Bing I will address all thses issues.Please be considerate what you post here many parents are reading this posts and this is Not a Joke.

Lou, you should come to the next Board of Ed meeting. Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

Arming our teachers or people who work at the school is not the answer. There are other ways to improve security in the schools as mentioned above. Arming our teachers is not one of them!

Here is my final word on this topic. An angry gunman or student with all the security and metal detector in place, can come in without a gun, set off the fire alarm, all the teachers and students are out of the building standing outdoors he goes to his car gets his automatic gun and wipe everyone out in mere seconds.

Now what do you do? Suggest everyone send their kids and teachers and guards all wear bullet proof vests? These things are heavy and cost between $250 and $1700 each.

In response to this comment, if we don't have security and something happens we will all blame ourselfs and say we should have had it done.I will make the next board meeting and discuss these issues.

I am not happy that we need to think about this issue, but it has created a must needed dialogue in our community. This is the first step to these and other concerns. Speaking up and letting some of our elected officials know how we feel. This has brought back a sense of continuity and unity to our town. All parents need to voice this issue at the next town meeting and or Board of Education meeting.
Maybe all parents can sign a petition, getting this more momentum so there is no delays on this. Its at least something that is tangible. I am not a parent but I am a concerned resident of Bloomfield, and I care about what goes on in our town.

I totally agree let's attend the BOE meeting 1 8 13 and take a stand.No money in the world will replace a child and my main concern is their safety.If needed I will start the petition and take it to the governor let's speak up!

As a teacher in a near by district and a parent ....I do not think teachers should be armed. I do think that
Bloomfield should have a security officer at the main doors of our schools and security cameras.

Put the arts back in schools! Guns don't belong in schools. Those supporting that course of action are fools. Violence begets violence. Can you imagine what a wonderful world this would be if all the energy wasted on hate, violence and greed was applied to cooperation for the good of all? Why not try that for a change? Elvis Costello said it..."What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?"

the teachers, students and security guard should all wear heelmets and bullet proof vests. a gunman sets off the fire alarm can easily gun down everyone outdoors
an armed guard cannot save all the teachers standing outside the school after the alarm goes off. this also coes witha cost for all the schools in the state so we will have to see how much this will raise our tax rates. the better bullet proof vests cost over $1200 each., and the guard needs several rounds of ammunition and a fast gun should he meet up a gunman with an automatic rifle
if it would be cheaper to make penalties more severe and ban these high powered guns instead by all means do it before raising taxes so high and penalties. if they are so high to affect you paying them all before the deadline.

Thanks John, I will keep you posted after my meetimg with Mr.Bing.

Protection is the ultimate goal - armed teachers is not the way to get there.

I do not want to see armed guards turn schools into jails. There will be no outdoor recess, no outdoor gym. These times have already been minimized and are the lowest priority in the US educational systems.

I would want police (or armed guards) cordoning off the perimeter streets, so the complex/campus of the school is safe but not a jail. All adjacent streets can be made a one way out, except a single access point in. The police/armed guard can monitor the perimeter throughout the day.

Isn't there a meeting already planned for January 30th to discuss this issue? Why would the Patch not ask the BOE or Superitendent for a comment instead of trying to inflame and upset parents and other residents.

The following letter to parents/guardians from Superintendent Bing has already been circulated.

December 14, 2012
Dear Parents/Guardians-

We were just informed of the tragedy at a Newtown Elementary School in Fairfield County, Connecticut. I want to assure you all that the Bloomfield Township Police and the school district work collaboratively to ensure the safety of our children and staff. All schools are under a 24/7 lockdown which requires visitors to be buzzed in electronically or checked in by security. Our Middle and High Schools each have a full time policeman in their building along with security guards.
Our elementary buildings utilize a video screening system and its doors are locked throughout the day. Our schools are also part of the routine patrols done by the Bloomfield Police every day.
All staff are trained in emergency drill procedures and practice those procedures monthly.
I ask that you keep the victims and families of this tragedy in your hearts. Our district will be holding a parent workshop on School Safety on Wednesday, January 30th in the BHS Media Center (7:00 pm). We will be presenting with the Bloomfield Police.

Please feel free to contact my office with any questions/concerns. I thank you.

Sincerely,

Bing