A proposal to reduce the number of school safety agents in New York City schools by nearly 300 positions has drawn criticism from parents, educators, and city officials who fear the move could weaken security at a time when serious incidents inside schools are increasing.
The staffing reduction is included in Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s preliminary budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027 and would eliminate 264 vacant school safety agent positions. While the proposal does not involve layoffs of currently employed personnel, critics argue that it could make it more difficult for schools to fill essential security roles in the future.
The issue was highlighted during a recent budget hearing before the New York City Council, where lawmakers examined education spending plans and school safety concerns.
Budget Proposal Targets Vacant School Safety Positions
During the Fiscal Year 2027 budget hearing, Eric Dinowitz informed council members that the Department of Education’s savings plan includes the elimination of hundreds of school safety agent vacancies…