NY budget reveals reversal of plans to transfer school safety agents to DOE

The New York budget proposal from Mayor Adams has revealed a reversal of plans to transfer school safety agents to the Department of Education (DOE) from the New York Police Department (NYPD).

New York City school safety agents have been confirmed to remain with the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Hence, the plan to transfer NYC school safety agents from the NYPD to the Education Department is reversed.

According to the budget documents, 5290 school safety positions that were slated to move from the NYPD to the DOE by next year are now scheduled to remain under the NYPD through at least 2026.

Former Mayor of New York City, Bill De Blasio admitted last fall that he’d never supported the idea in the first place.

Meanwhile, Adams indicated on the campaign trail that he didn’t back the idea, and has doubled down on his support of school safety agents.

The transfer was still scheduled to proceed next fiscal year, at least on paper.

Advocates who supported the transfer say it deserved a chance — and that scrubbing it without discussion doesn’t do justice to an idea that generated significant public interest.

The role of school safety officers has come under scrutiny again as city schools see an uptick in weapons seizures — including more guns confiscated this school year than in years past.