On January 3rd, 18-year-old Michael Ross of Malta threatened to shoot students at Maple Avenue Middle School. Thanks to the new bail reform law, Mr. Ross was released upon his own recognizance to be arraigned at a later date. The response of the Saratoga Springs School district was to increase the presence of armed Security on Monday January 6th. Which naturally begs the question, what about every day after that?
Despite the recent threat, the change to NYS law and the expert recommendations around the necessity of armed school guards, the Saratoga Springs Board of Education continues to sit idle. The debate about whether or not active and retired police officers are qualified to carry a firearm on campus is over. That question was settled by Andrew Cuomo and the Democrat Party controlled majority of the legislature last year.
Saratoga Parents for Safer Schools continues to hear from outraged parents, students and educators throughout the district, concerned that the recommendations from law enforcement and experts continue to be ignored by the school board. This spring we will again take on the task of electing new members to the SSCD board of education. Leaders that put the safety of the students and staff ahead of their own political agenda. Please join us in this fight.
- Kara Rosettie, Saratoga Parents for Safer Schools
