Police officers will once again greet students in the Newtown School District this fall.
A three-phase security plan was unveiled by First Selectman Pat Llodra on her blog. Llodra, the police chief and schools superintendent have been meeting to discuss the plan.
The first step in the plan including keeping officers posted at elementary schools, as they were during the months after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.
"It's a critical need," Llodra said. "We recognize that it's a promise we made."
"We will absolutely have police officers in our elementary schools as part of our commitment to the community," Llodra said.
The mid-term plan is to assign school resource officers as school officers in the elementary schools.
The town is hoping to use grant money to help offset the costs. They will know in September whether or not they've been successful in those grants.
As for a long-term plan, the town wants to hire permanent school safety officers, who will most likely be retired cops. They will work only during the school year.
Llodra said when it comes to school security, they're trying to be reasonable, appropriate and careful.
"We know this is something we are going to do and we'll find the resources to do it," she said.
There will be separate security plan for Sandy Hook Elementary School, which is temporarily located in neighboring Monroe.
