Recently, Assemblymen Sean T. Kean (District 30) sponsored the “Secure Schools for All Children Act” (A-4288), a bill that provides $25.00 per pupil to help ensure security measures for nonpublic school children. Public school students already receive about $75.00 per pupil for security aid.
Assembly Candidate Eliot A. Colon argued against this bill, saying, “While the bill is a step in the right direction to insure the safety of ‘all children’, public or private, special or non-special needs, it does not go far enough to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable, especially those with special needs who are often placed in nonpublic schools.”
Assemblymen Kean asked in his Assembly bill press release, “How much would you pay to make sure children are safe in school?”
“Well obvious not much”, says Colon, “as Kean’s bill would devalue special needs and non-public school children lives by two-thirds, for security aid.”
“How can you dare say that one child’s life is worth less than another and how can you say this child is not entitled to the same level of security as the non-special needs child?” said Colon. “This is about security and protecting life, not about books and pencils.”
Colon continued, saying, “I am convinced that you can achieve security and equality among all children in the district with some creativity and hard work on the problem, but that will never be achieved if you take a short cut and propose plans that set in-motion the concept of inequality.”
Colon also expressed concern about the precedent such a bill would set.
“Putting politics aside, first and foremost, this bill sets a ‘dangerous precedent’. How can you have a bill that calls for one child’s life be worth only one-third of another? This will only fuel those that want to divide us. There must be a better way. Safety of our children should not be compromised or bartered.”
Colon has overseen extensive security and safety enhancements during his time as board of education president for the Brielle Township school. Some of the enhancements included new security cameras, security enhanced windows, panic buttons throughout the school, new locks that ensure an added level of safety, and working closely with local police officials.
The general election for NJ Assembly is on November 7, 2017 in which Colon is battling against incumbents, Sean T. Kean and party installed incumbent, Ned Thomson, who was named David Rible’s replacement as Assemblymen after his resignation to serve as the Director of the NJ ABC in June 2017.
About Assembly Candidate Eliot Arlo Colon: Assembly Candidate Colon is the President of the Brielle Board of Education, having served six years on the board of education. Colon is also the Chairman of the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan, NJ and Partner/Co-Owner of Miro Consulting, Inc. based in Woodbridge, NJ which was previously named NJBIZ Fastest Growing Company. Colon was named NJBIZ Executive of the Year finalist and Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists four years in a row.
Assembly Candidate Colon, born August 19, 1969, grew up in Edison, N.J. He resides in Brielle Township with his wife Lorene, and two teenage sons.
[Press Release]
