NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Private school parents in New York City are calling for a significant change to a local law amid security concerns.
They're urging the City Council to fund security guards for smaller private and religious schools, arguing that safety and education must go hand in hand.
However, a legal loophole has left approximately 70,000 private school children vulnerable.
At Our Lady of Lourdes School in Hamilton Heights, office secretaries double as security officers, monitoring cameras and controlling entry into the building.
"You just never know who's coming in," noted one parent at pickup.
Principal Suzanne Kaczynski explained that when her school's student enrollment dipped below 300 during the pandemic, it lost critical city funding for security guards.
"We felt safer knowing there was someone at the door watching," Kaczynski said.
A proposed bill is now on the verge of a critical vote. The City Council is debating whether to allocate an additional $20 million annually to reimburse smaller private schools for security services.
"Local Law 2 is deficient because only schools with 300 or more students can be part of the initiative," said Joseph Rosenberg of the Catholic Community Relations Council, explaining in a city council hearing in September, "Enrollments of 299 are not eligible."
At the City Hall testimony leaders from various religious private schools argued about the inequity, emphasizing the heightened vulnerabilities after October 7.
"Certainly since then, I have worried incredibly about my students," said Bracha Rutner of Yeshiva University High School for Girls in Queens.
Islamic schools are feeling the void too. "Several of our students were accosted outside the school," added Imani Moore of the Razi School in Woodside.
An estimated 548 security guards would be required to staff these smaller private schools. Parents remain optimistic about the potential benefits of the proposal.
"Somebody can have a job they’re proud of because they’re protecting children all around—it’s a win," said parent Joe Gentile.
"We live in New York City. Things happen anywhere," noted Julie Lawrence.
The Archdiocese of NY is hopeful for divine intervention, saying in a statement, "This legislation is an important step in securing the well-being of all our children. We commend the council for its leadership in prioritizing safety and community well-being.”
"To have a security guard cost reimbursed would really be a blessing," Principal Kaczynski added.
Sources within the City Council indicate that members are finalizing the bill's provisional language, aiming for a resolution that could bring funding to private schools by early next year.
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