By David Karas, Correspondent
This past August’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis that claimed the lives of two children and injured more than two dozen other people affected countless lives and devastated families.
It also served as a stark reminder of the security threats that all school communities face, including Catholic schools and other nonpublic institutions.
As public institutions receive additional funding to bolster security in their facilities, Catholic school leaders and advocated in the Diocese of Trenton and across the state are urging support for a proposed increase in state funding that would facilitate similar measures in nonpublic schools.
“Nonpublic school families are New Jersey families,” said Bonnie Milecki, diocesan assistant superintendent for school development and operations. “They pay taxes, and their children deserve the same sense of safety when they walk into school each day.”
In response to this issue, the New Jersey Catholic Conference has posted an Action Alert, offering an online option to contact New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill to express support for increasing funding for nonpublic school security from $205 to $260 per pupil in the state’s next budget, which takes effect July 1.
Recognizing the importance of security both in public and nonpublic schools, New Jersey began allocating funding for nonpublic school security in the state budget in 2016 as part of the Secure Schools for All Children Act. At the time, the state set a rate of $75 per pupil, for an overall allocation of $11.3 million.
The current state budget reflects just over $30.5 million in funding – a rate of $205 per pupil – and this rate has remained the same for the last four budget cycles.
“The reality is that the security landscape has changed, and schools are now being asked to meet those challenges with resources that haven’t kept pace,” said Milecki. “This request is about ensuring every child, in every school setting, is protected. If we really believe that every child’s safety matters, then our funding decisions need to reflect that.”
Milecki also expressed support for the proposal in her role as president of the New Jersey Council for American Private Education, which sent a letter to Gov. Sherrill on February 11 to underscore the importance of this proposal.
When the state first began funding nonpublic school security, the allocations were used by many communities for “target hardening” – a crime and threat prevention strategy that makes school buildings more difficult to attack or enter. Experts say this is of particular importance for nonpublic schools like religious schools, many of which were built without the anticipation of modern security risks and threats.
While target hardening remains a priority, there is also currently an increased focus on hiring armed security officers who are assigned to school facilities to provide an additional layer of protection. In fact, the state’s 2026 Educational Adequacy Report, which evaluates funding formulas for various aspects of schools, details the current push to increase security personnel in public schools across the Garden State.
“Since the State first established this line item in Fiscal Year 2017 at $75 per pupil, nonpublic schools have relied on these funds to secure entrances, install cameras, and strengthen building security,” Milecki wrote in NJCAPE’s letter to Gov. Sherrill. “Funding currently stands at $205 per pupil and has remained flat for four budget cycles — despite rising security costs and a significantly heightened threat environment.”
The New Jersey Catholic Conference urges support for an increase in funding to help nonpublic schools keep pace with security enhancements being made by public schools throughout New Jersey.
To view the New Jersey Catholic Conference action alert, and to complete an online form to express your support to Governor Sherrill, visit HERE.