Too Much or Not Enough: Buffalo Schools Will Spend $3 Million On Security

Buffalo Public Schools has approved a $3 million budget to upgrade security equipment. Do you think it's too much or not enough? Over the past year or so, there have been quite a few violent incidents at Buffalo Public Schools.

We want our parents to feel comfortable sending their children into school, and we want our students to come into schools and know that they are safe. That's very important. How can you learn if you're not feeling comfortable and safe?

~ Buffalo Schools Superintendent Tonja Williams

Buffalo Schools Have Had Multiple Violent Incidents

Another teen stabbed a female teenage student at a Buffalo School on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. Buffalo Police are investigating the incident, which happened just after noon. The altercation occurred inside a Buffalo School of Culinary Arts classroom, located at 75 W Huron Street in Buffalo.

Buffalo Police said that a 16-year-old female student allegedly stabbed a 17-year-old female victim, according to WGRZ. The suspect was arrested. The victim was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children's Hospital.

Back in February, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that a teenager was indicted for bringing a loaded gun onto a Buffalo high school campus. The 15-year-old male was arraigned on Thursday, February 17, 2022, before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan. He was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. The incident happened on Thursday, December 16, 2021, when the teenager allegedly had the gun inside a backpack on the campus of Bennett Community School Campus on Main Street in Buffalo.

And of course we can't forget the violence at McKinley. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that a teenage suspect was arrested in connection to the shooting and stabbing incidents at McKinley High School. A 17-year-old male was arraigned on February 14, 2022, before Youth Part Justice Kelly Brinkworth. The teen was charged with,

one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class “B” violent felony)
one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony)
one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony).

On Wednesday, February 9, just before 4 pm, the suspect and multiple other individuals were involved in a fight at the high school. A 14-year-old male was beaten and stabbed multiple times. A security guard, who was trying to break up the altercation, was shot in the leg allegedly by the suspect. A 13-year-old was grazed by a bullet as well but didn't initially report his injuries to the police.

Buffalo Public Schools New $3 Million Security Upgrade

The security upgrade will include new handheld metal detectors, two-way radios, and concealed weapon detection systems. The district serves around 34,000 students at 60 facilities. That breaks the $3 million down to about $50,000 per facility or $88 per student. According to WGRZ, the changes will begin to take place in November 2022 and should be in full effect by December.