Levittown district to add armed guards outside school buildings

Levittown school officials announced this week that they have hired a private contractor to provide armed security outside district buildings starting next school year.

The school board on Wednesday approved a contract for Covert Investigations and Security in Ronkonkoma to provide armed security guard services. Superintendent Todd Winch said the district estimates they will pay the firm about $900,000 annually.

"Those that are in charge of the security and safety of our students and staff, that responsibility is vested in us, and I think that with the way that things have been going in regards to safety issues in schools, this is something we're required to do, not something we want to do," Winch told Newsday.

The district joins at least 21 other school districts across the Island that have opted to add armed guards in recent years.

Levittown has been considering adding armed guards for more than a year. The district had looked at arming their current security guards, but said it would require the Nassau County Civil Service Commission to create an "armed security guard" title, which exists in Suffolk but not in Nassau.

Winch said in a letter to the community that the armed guards will remain outside district buildings during school hours. They are prohibited from entering unless there is an "active assailant situation."

"Our current unarmed security aides will continue to manage the district’s daily security operations," Winch said in the letter.

Winch said at least one armed guard will be stationed at every school building, but declined to provide additional details. He said the guards will collaborate with the district's existing security guards, Nassau County police officials and school officials to assess any threats and emergencies.

"They'll be another set of eyes outside," he noted.

The guards will be former law enforcement officers with experience managing "high-security situations," Winch wrote in his letter to the community. "They undergo ongoing training in de-escalation, firearms proficiency, and active shooter response. These measures will be implemented discreetly to minimize disruption and maintain the positive, nurturing learning environment that defines our schools."

The Levittown school district has 10 schools. It enrolls about 7,200 students and employs around 1,500 staff members, Winch previously said.

Last year, the district surveyed more than 820 parents, 130 students and nearly 500 staff members regarding district security.

The results found that in all three groups, more than 80% said they felt safe at school. But the survey also indicated that 23.5% of students, 26.4% of staff and 32% of parents supported armed guards as a recommended safety enhancement.

A majority of students — 53.8% — and slightly less than half of parents and staff — 43.6% and 47.3%, respectively — also called for more mental health support.