ANCHOR BAY, Mich. – In a special meeting, Anchor Bay Schoolboard leaders decided to hire additional armed security guards for the upcoming academic school year.
Superintendent Phil Jankowski spoke to Local 4 on how armed security can help when time is the most important thing.
“Most incidents are four to seven minutes,” said Jankowski. “Your first responders are not really the first responders. People inside are the first responders. So, what are you going to do in that four to seven minutes?”
About half a dozen parents were in the crowd for the 6-to-one vote.
Under the newly proposed plan, the incoming guards will cost the district over $200,000 and will be able to help out in the school in a variety of ways.
Local 4 has been told that the plan is to make them as inconspicuous as possible.
“They will not be dressed in uniform because that’s been a big concern,” Jankowski said. “They don’t want somebody wearing a tactical vest and all of that because it can be intimidating, especially on the elementary school level. So our goal is that they would be dressed in khakis and polo shirts.”
Parents and community members like Stefanie Rieden and Dominic Vendittelli can agree that it’s a least a start that can ease a little bit of worry.
“As easy as these schools are to get into, having somebody on site that can possibly stop it sooner than our police department would be great,” said Rieden. “Our nearest sheriff’s department is 20 mins away minimum.”
“I think it’s a good step in the right direction about keeping the school safe,” said Vendittelli. “Armed security is the way to go.”
Board Trustee Jon DeRoo however, is the only one who shot down the idea during a vote. His concern is the question of just who will be trusted enough to come to step into the school with a gun that will openly be carried.
“What I wanted to see was sworn police officers,” said DeRoo. “I thought that the best option was to have Chesterfield police or Baltimore police. So, what is it? Is it money? Or is it protecting the kids?”
Remember that the first day of school is Tuesday (Sep.6). Less than a week for the selection process to be finalized. Aside from this move, the district has also spent a lot of money improving security technology.