By Patrick Diegnan Jr.
On December 14, 2012, an armed intruder attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The inconceivable carnage left 20 children dead, along with six adults who attempted to thwart the attack. Although there will never be a simple answer as to how to prevent the behavior which led to the attack, everyone agrees that access to our schools is far too easy for those intent on causing harm.
Immediately after the Sandy Hook shooting, members of the New Jersey Legislature made proposals to improve school safety. Upon the request of Gov. Chris Christie, these initiatives were placed on hold so that a commission could be formed to study the issue on a holistic basis. Gov. Christie signed legislation creating the School Security Task Force into law in August of 2013. The task force consisted of an 11-member body commissioned to study and develop recommendations to ensure a safe environment for students and school employees. As a legislator and as a parent, I was proud to be a part of this bipartisan approach to develop a statewide program to make our schools safe. I was hopeful that renovations to our schools would be underway within a matter of months.
I must regrettably report that the only thing that has been accomplished over the two years since the bill was signed is an increase in my frustration, as well as that of my legislative colleagues.
Gov. Christie did not appoint members to the School Security Task Force until March 2014, seven months after signing the bill. During that time, he twice rejected legislation to require silent alarms in schools (A-373), noting that he would “reserve judgment on the proposal until the School Security Task Force completes its study and issues its findings and recommendations on school security issues.” From December 2014, I repeatedly have asked the Department of Education about the status of the recommendations of the task force. I was assured that a report would be published in April. Nothing has been forthcoming. It is my understanding that the recommendations of the task force are stalled in the governor’s office.
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