We believe that Beth El has a fiduciary and moral obligation to engage a security consulting firm with expertise in counter terrorism to assess our current security situation and to make actionable recommendations to improve the security of the school.

In this day and age we need professional security personnel trained for active shooter attacks and more. Such training is actually happening in offices all over our area. School aged children are long known to be rich targets for terrorists. School aged Jewish children, only more so. Who is protecting our children when we leave them at school? If someone comes to our school with a gun, what is standing between them and our children?

We will not stand by while complacency and old world thinking endanger our beautiful children and the dedicated staff who love and care for them. The fact is that once upon a time terrorists seemed to go for high profile, high publicity targets. If recent events have taught us anything, it's that their tactics have changed. High profile venues are locked up tight. Small cells are targeting low hanging fruit, places with easy access. We must be sure not to be such a place.

Synagogues and schools with much lower profiles have security far in excess of ours. Even Young Israel of New Rochelle, an unremarkable building down the street on North Avenue, has completely revamped its security and has instituted a strict buzzer system with a code specific to each family. Unlike Beth El, their building does not have a giant Menorah on the lawn announcing its Jewish identity. Yet, they feel the need to revamp their security. Why is our fabulous, progressive school so behind the times?

Below is a list of security measures being taken by Jewish institutions that surround us.

Westchester Day school - Armed guards, Secured perimeter. Set back form the road. No signage

JCC- Multiple guards. Strict Buzzer system.

SAR - Set back at the end of a road. Trained guards at every entrance. Buzzer system.

Solomon Schechter: Set back from the road. Guard station with gate monitoring everyone entering and exiting the campus.

Manhattan Day School - Multiple guards stationed inside and outside school. Buzzer system

Teaneck Jewish schools - There are too many to list. Nearly every single one has armed security personnel.

Young Israel of New Rochelle - Our neighbors down the street have instituted a strict buzzer system with a code specific to each family.