It would not be right to list their names.  After all, the reason the eight yeshivos and Jewish day schools will be receiving more than $20,000 each from New York State is to improve the security of their buildings and the children studying there.  To publicly identify the institutions in need of such improvements would be, in our post 9/11 world, irresponsible.

But the Jewish schools, which are among 23 nonpublic schools in the state receiving the special “State Security Grants,” are grateful that they will now have funds to do things like install security equipment (closed-circuit cameras, shatter-proof doors and windows, door buzzers, check-in/out systems and tracking ID badges); hire consultants to perform risk assessments and provide crisis-preparedness information; and train school personnel in violence prevention and crisis-response management.

The grants were awarded by the New York State Senate as a result of efforts by State Senators Martin Golden, Andrew Lanza, Serphin Maltese and Frank Padavan – in whose districts the recipient schools are located.

Back in July, Dr. Frank Thompson, Director of the Facilitator Center at Pace University, which was designated to coordinate the grant, met with representatives of Agudath Israel of America, the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York and the Sephardic Community Federation at Agudath Israel’s national headquarters in lower Manhattan to discuss how the grant money might be most effectively used. 

Shortly thereafter, Agudath Israel director of education affairs Mrs. Deborah Zachai and educations affairs associate Mr. Dovid Tanenbaum informed the yeshiva/Jewish day school recipients that their institutions had been selected to receive the grant.  This past Monday, October 6, the Agudath Israel representatives convened a conference call with administrators of the institutions to explain the rules and regulations pertinent to use of the grant funds.  Itemized estimates from contractors delivered to Agudath Israel by November 10 will be reviewed by Mrs. Zachai and Mr. Tanenbaum, and forwarded to Dr.Thompson for his approval.

“Security concerns are among the highest agenda items in Jewish schools these days,” says Mrs. Zachai. “In times like ours, we want to do all we can to ensure the safety and security of our children.”

“We’re gratified by the efforts of the State Senators who recognized the need here, and who worked so hard in trying economic times to make the security measures a reality for the schools affected.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)