The state, not Bayonne, is supposed to pay for police at private schools, official says

The state, not the City of Bayonne, is supposed to pay for police officers stationed at private schools, according to local officials who addressed the issue after it became an issue in the mayoral race yesterday.

All Saints Catholic Academy. Facebook photo.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“A recent internal audit showed that the city was not reimbursed for the extra-duty assignments of full-time Bayonne police officers assigned to provide dedicated on-site security at two local private schools—All Saints Catholic Academy and Beacon Christian Academy,” explained Law Director Donna Russo in a statement.

“The primary responsibility for on-site security at private, religious schools should not be paid for by Bayonne taxpayers; instead, it should be funded by the private religious institutions using available Nonpublic School Security Aid.”

The measure came up yesterday when mayoral candidate Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski went after interim Mayor Robert Kubert, also the city’s public safety director, and the City Council blasted the decision, as HCV first reported.

While Ashe-Nadrowski said the council, the same one where she served as council president for eight years, voted for the change, the same language used by All Saints Catholic Academy Principal John Rios, Russo said it was an administrative call.

“Contrary to the incorrect information reported by All Saints to its students’ parents yesterday, (1) no member of the Municipal Council was aware of this matter, and (2) the Municipal Council has not taken a vote on this issue,” she expressed on Tuesday.

“As an administrative decision, the City encouraged both schools to use State funding, since taxpayers should not bear the costs of private security details without reimbursement.”

Russo further stated that both All Saints and the Beacon Christian Academy were contacted about the issue and informed about the state aid, and while both separately said they were aware of the program, each school declined to commit to utilizing it.

“The safety of our children in our community has always been and will continue to be a top priority for the Bayonne Police Department,” Chief Joseph Scerbo said in a statement.

He added that he will be meeting with both principals today to discuss interim measures available to both schools.