CCC Testimony: Re Int. 131: Avonte’s Law – Requiring DOE to equip all exit doors with an alarm system in all elementary school buildings and buildings accommodating district 75 programs

Published June, 2014

CCC testified In favor of Int. 131, which would require audible alarms on all exit doors in elementary and district 75 schools, at a City Council Education Committee Hearing on June 12, 2014.

CCC’s testimony strongly supported this legislation, as a commonsense means to ensure school staff would be alerted if a young, vulnerable or special needs child left the school building.

This legislation is in response to the tragic death of of Avonte Oquendo, an autistic child who left his school through a side door and died likely due to the delay in searching for him outside the school building.  Since the death of Avonte, eight young children ages 4-7 have also left their school buildings, but fortunately were unharmed.

Read our full testimony urging the City Council to pass Int. 131 and to ensure that the funding for the alarms is included in the City’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget.