New York City (WABC) — The nation’s largest school district is gearing up for the start of the 2023-24 school year.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban and New York City Department of Education (DOE) Superintendent David C. Banks on Friday. . Banks to discuss the city’s back-to-school safety preparations ahead of the start of the 2023 school year.
They outline initiatives to help ensure safe opening of classes.
WATCH: NYC officials hold back-to-school safety briefing
NYC Public Schools Superintendent David Banks said the front doors of New York City public schools will be locked starting this year, starting with elementary schools, which will significantly increase security measures to prevent possible school shootings .
“Anyone who turns up at the school once the school day has started and the doors are locked will press a buzzer and they will be seen by school security at the front door. They will be able to communicate with them and show their ID and our reason for entering. Get there before,” Banks said.
The program will start in elementary schools and expand to middle and high schools next year.
The city will also continue programs to make students feel safer off campus, where many crimes involving students have occurred.
The increase in weapons seizures at schools last year has been linked to violence outside of schools.
Some of the 6,945 weapons seized on school playgrounds last year were guns and box knives but most were knives, officials said.
Banks said the city will continue to work with community members to create safe access to and from schools.
“In the last year, we have been disturbed by the increase in the number of weapons brought into schools,” Banks said. “Kids are not bringing these weapons to school to harm their classmates. They have told us over and over that these weapons It’s for protecting yourself in and out of school.”
Students will also have two to four minutes of mindful breathing each day, teaching them how to calm conflict before it becomes violent, Banks said.
“It’s not just a cute thing,” he said. “It’s a lifelong skill and we want to see our schools get better and develop over time so that when they’re faced with any level of trauma, they know how to take a deep breath and know how to act better before Choice. They just react.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said the start of the new school year coincides with the safest summer in years.
“Shooting incidents are down 26 percent in the five boroughs. There have been 193 fewer people being shot this summer,” Caban said. “Murders are also down. So far this year, there have been 27 fewer murders citywide.”
Thursday, September 7th was the first day of class for New York City public school students.
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