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Candidates disagree on armed security in schools
Summary
Dr. Michelle Rivers said she opposes armed security in school buildings, while Timothy Sasson said he supports armed guards to confront active threats and argued police response delays justify on-site armed security.
At the Suffolk Region PTA forum, Dr. Michelle Rivers said she opposes armed security in school buildings. "I do not believe in armed security. I do not think that guns have a place in schools," she said, adding concerns about accidents and harm and advocating restorative approaches.
Timothy Sasson disagreed, saying security should be armed to confront the “predator” in worst-case scenarios and to avoid waiting for police response. "If the predator were the worst were to happen, of course, the only thing to be force to meet with force would be force itself," Sasson said, noting he has not seen documented accidents involving armed security in schools but said he would re-evaluate if incidents occurred.
Both candidates framed the question as a balance between safety and school climate. The forum produced no district policy change; it provided voters with the candidates’ positions on a possible board policy regarding armed security.
