NCJ Number
94631
Date Published
Unknown
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The Brentwood School District's (New York State) security program based on trained paraprofessionals has not only decreased losses from theft and vandalism, but has created a security presence that helps reduce student conflict and racial tension within the school itself.
Abstract
The Brentwood School District, the second largest suburban school district in New York State with over 14,000 students, first tried to deal with vandalism and student unrest in the 1970's by using contract security guards. This approach was not effective, and the School District in 1974 implemented a pilot program to hire, train, and use paraprofessional security aides. The pilot effort was so successful that the concept was expanded to cover both school and nonschool hours in the entire district. These in-house paraprofessional security aides handle security patrol and perimeter protection, coverage of afterschool activities, electric monitoring of facilities, and a 24-hour operation center facility. A security program has been integrated with the Buildings and Grounds Department and the District Radio Station to provide many services, including monitoring road conditions and heating and refrigeration conditions within building structures. Each staff member who enters the security program receives over 100 hours of training in road patrol, first aid and CPR, sensitivity training, all aspects of criminal law, and Board of Education policies and procedures. Security aides are evaluated twice a year. Losses from vandalism and theft have decreased from over $125,000 in 1975 to just over $56,000 in 1983. Moreover, security staff have developed close working relationships with students and faculty and have prevented many difficult situations from escalating into serious incidents.