Last night on 1210 AM radio there was a several hour discussion about School Officers called SRO's and how we may have to put one in every school both private and public. When my child was in Cinnaminson Schools we had two officers working full time in each school. I remember them doing some great things. One I believe was our current Mayor Brauckman and the other one my son said was Officer Seymore. I remember Seymore speaking at a school board meeting I attended calming everyone down when it was reported that an explosive was found behind Rush School. My son remembered him running the ski club trips and teaching them, "What to do during crisis drills." What happened to the two cops we had at the schools each day? They are not mentioned in this article at all by Dr. Illuzzi. Are they no longer in the school or was it just an over site by him.

If our Sal Illuzzi had restricted his comments to just assure parents that the schools were doing their best to protect the students, I would have applauded his words.
But not even one of those poor children in Connecticut are even yet buried and our $200k plus generous benefits superintendent Sal Illuzzi is using that god awful tragedy to advance his $32 million Capital Project proposal. Cannot he allow people to catch their breath before exploiting Newtown? Cannot his contractors and their buddies who are waiting to divvy up that $32 construction job have the decency to wait just a few days before exploiting the hell that happened in Newtown.
By the way, all the comments from school, township employees, town councilmembers, and especially contractors pretending to be concerned parents will be ignored, you guys have no pride. Bottom line is Sal’s exploitation is wrong.

Deanna, I am certainly happy that Sal's comments comfort you. But that does not change that he is exploiting a tragedy. After reading his letter, how can any parent feel safe in sending their child to school today when the superintendent of schools outright tells them that the schools are very unsafe? His letter was designed not to comfort parents but rather scare and bully parents into believing that it is unsafe to send any child to Cinnaminson schools until after the $32 million has been doled out to his contractors. And let’s face it; it will be years before the project is completed. If Sal was interested ensuring parents, he would have mentioned having cops at the schools like “it’s your conscience calling” pointed out. Sal is an exploiter. The security at the schools would be better by having cops at the schools then to add a spiffy second floor to the center wing to CHS – unless, of course, he is planning to put gun turrets up there.
PS: By the way, all the comments from school, township employees, town councilmembers, and especially contractors pretending to be concerned parents will be ignored, you guys have no pride. Bottom line is Sal’s exploitation is wrong

Dear Deanna, if you do not think Sal's pitch for the "Capital Project Proposal" is exploitation, in the above letter that was sent home to parents, you wear rose tinted glasses. If you think spending $32 million on the schools will make them safe from a tragedy like what happened on Friday, your rose tinted glasses must be very strong.
Obviously you will not be content unless the township spends $32 million on the schools. How a tennis court will add to school safety is beyond my grasp. I just do not understand how you think a school will be much safer by an improved canopy but adding police to the campus would not add to school safety.
You do know that you cannot ensure any school is safe by spending $32 million on its aesthetics. Bottom line is Sal is exploiting a tragedy; he should at least have the decency and wait until the children are buried so a shocked and saddened Cinnaminson can grieve for those unfortunate families in Newtown.

Yes, our P.D. did have two SRO's several years back, before our current committee began tearing down our P.D. Our current Mayor was indeed one of them, and was actually very proactive, that is until he ran to Moorestown P.D. And was later elected to Twp Committee. He then "saw the light" and agreed to taking Officers out of the schools, laying off 2 officers, forcing out our most senior officers, including our Chief of Police, and allowing our PD to go from 34 officers all the way down to 22 during his time in office.

I applaud Dr. llluzzi's comments and realize he does have the best interests of our kids always as his main focus. Those who cast stones about his comments truly don't know the man. I trust he will do what is right for the school district and more important for the kids of this town.

WOW Jenn, you spout that information out like your a teacher.....how about auto accidents and speeding, how many are killed there, yet the speed limit does not stop people from not speeding....We all have to do our part....happy holidays

@Paul Seymour. I very much agree with you that more police are needed in Cinnaminson – especially at the schools. It is wrong that our town’s police are bearing the brunt of cost cutting in Cinnaminson but it will be difficult to get more police hired unless there is some saving elsewhere. Many, like me, would point out that the cost of running schools is too high and if we extract cost savings from the school budget we could pay for more officers.
From your experience as a Cinnaminson officer where do you think Cinnaminson could cut costs so to hire more police?

How pitiful that this horrific event has prompted some Cinnaminson residents to grandstand their opinions on taxes and salaries. If you are that unhappy, move elsewhere and see what you get for your money.
Shame on those who have chosen to turn this incomprehensible event into a self serving opportunity to support your political opinions. God bless the devastated families that have been impacted by this mass killing.

@HMQ. Welcome to Patch. This is your second post. I apologize but some of us are struggling with taxes. I hope that does not offend your sense of moral superiority. Oh, I have a better idea why don't you move to a town where people are happiest when paying the highest taxes. Isn't that the nirvana of all school and township employees? God bless the devastated families that have been impacted by this mass killing. May tighter gun control laws come out of this.

@Reform NJ I think the people in Newton would tell you where you could stick your statistics. I also bet they are willing now to fund any measure in the future that helps safe guard their children. You clearly did not read all I wrote. I never said that 100% the SRO would have stopped it. I said "may have" go read it again sir. What I can. Tell you is the presence of no one with a gun when a bad guy comes in shooting up any place makes the odds of stopping him almost 0 that's a fact. So according to you if something is statistically rare no effort should be made to stop it if it cost you tax money. We spend lots of money protecting the president. Assassination are rare but the impact on society is huge. Same with this event. Things don't have to be common to make them worth doing or maybe I just value the lives of children more than you.

The problem folks isnt guns and its not about the lack of SROs or police officers in the schools.

The problem in this incident was the complete lack of responsibility of a gun owning parent and a kid who clearly wasnt getting the help that was required.

And yes - stats and odds mean everything. Sure they may not make the victims feel better, but the approach and solution to all this needs to be objective and cost effective as well which is esp important considering the whole friggin nation is bankrupt.

Btw - CT and NJ both have assault weapon bans in place for those who think that new gun legislation is the solution to everything. Also note the federal assault weapon ban was in place during columbine and other rampages.

Jenn, the kid was an adult and that shows how little you know.
Nancy, the dead parent was killed because Adam knew she was petitioning the courts for permission to put him into a facility that treats mentally ill people. After killing his mother, he went to the school to take revenge on students she had helped. He thought she loved them more than she loved him.
There were no warning signs that he was about to go off. That she was allowed by law to purchase these guns is why this tragedy happened. This just goes to prove assault weapons should be totally banned.

Youre an idiot Ric. Troll.

Nicely said Maury. My thoughts exactly.

@Reform NJ this happened just yesterday. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Man-Arrested-at-Sandy-Hook-Elementary-in-Virginia-184172411.html

See who made the arrest

My bad, looks like you make closer to $90,000 among your $100,000 plus making friends but you must admit, you’re kind of an oddity in this regard. Kind of like having no children at your age, another oddity I’m sure. I congratulate you on your duel income, no kids, and three property existences and your success as a business owner but again, you are an oddity. I due applaud your success however so please don’t get me wrong. It’s just most of us parents and grandparents are not as fortunate and don’t share your enthusiasm of volunteering to offer to pay higher taxes. And yes, I am successful but as you guessed, in the private industry. Finally, the arrest looks to be a good one but every police department and school in the country is on heightened watch the week after that shooting so I am not surprised. Let’s hope somewhere between your ideals and mine our lawmakers find a compromise that will work! Take care and Merry Christmas