NEWTOWN, Conn. — The Newtown Public Schools, along with the Newtown Police Department and the Newtown Town Council, have decided to continue to provide armed security for public schools when the new school year begins.
In the short-term, town officials will assign police officers to monitor elementary schools from overtime, meaning that there will be no gap in service, according to a blog on OneNewtown.org. The short-term plan will remain in place until the district implements the mid-term plan, which calls for the hiring of three school resource officers (SROs) for elementary schools.
In the long-term, town and district officials are seeking to add a new position, called the school safety officer, to provide armed officers in Newtown public schools. Officials are currently developing the roles, responsibilities and scope of authority an SSO might have. Retired police officers will be eligible for the SSO position.
The new plans do not include Sandy Hook Elementary School, which will have a separate and distinct security plan, according to the blog.
