Corzine seeks more drills to make schools safer Friday, October 20, 2006 • BY JOHN MOONEY • Associated Press The recent spate of school shootings nationwide has prompted a high-level push for more police in New Jersey schools, frequent crisis drills and increased emergency-response planning. Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday took to the road to press these and other steps for schools already strengthening safety measures, saying there remains room for improvement in protecting their students and staff. "We have not been asleep at the switch, but you can never be too certain that you are vigilant enough," Corzine told an audience at Fort Lee High School, one of two schools he visited yesterday. "And we need to make sure that it isn't about paper and just words, but that it is about deeds." The details of his S.A.V.E. plan -- for "Strategic Actions for Violence Elimination" -- remain works in progress. A new statewide task force the governor named earlier this month will first meet to set statewide standards and guidelines for schools. But Corzine said he hopes the committee's work will lead to legislation and regulations that will put concrete measures in every school, including private and nursery schools. He touted yearly crisis drills in schools, be they lockdowns or evacuations. Also likely are tighter standards and reviews of emergency plans, particularly coordination with police. A pilot program is planned to work with bus operators as well, developing guidelines for dealing with crises that may develop on the way to and from schools. And in what would be one of the most visible measures, Corzine said he hoped the state could provide funding for additional police officers, known as school resource officers, potentially in every district. There are currently about 300 such officers statewide, far shy of the number of districts, let alone schools. "I would hope every school district at least would have a school resource officer," Corzine said. "And beyond just the public schools, but also the other places where they go to school." Fort Lee High School seemed an appropriate place to make the pitch, considering the strict steps officials took following the three school shootings that rocked the nation earlier this month. Doors have been more vigilantly locked and monitored, backpacks are no longer allowed beyond the school lockers, and even the dress code was tightened to prohibit baggy clothes that might hide a weapon. Still, several students interviewed said the backpack rule has been aggravating and not all that effective, considering bags are not searched. Some said a police officer at the door likely would be more effective. "The adults don't have the same perspective as students do," said David Plested, a 17-year-old senior who attended Corzine's event as editor of the school newspaper. "A lot of these measures they are putting in place are similar to a paper army and really don't do that much." "I totally agree there should be security policy in place, but something that really does protect the students," he said. © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.