NYC Announces Major Cuts to School Safety Staff as Violence Climbs

New York City’s education department, led by Deputy Chancellor Mamdani, unveiled a plan this week to trim the roster of school safety agents by roughly 300 positions. The decision comes at a time when recent police data show a noticeable uptick in violent felonies — assaults, stabbings and robberies — within the city’s public‑school system.

"We’re forced to make tough choices," Mamdani told reporters at the Board of Education’s headquarters. "Our budget is stretched thin, and we have to prioritize core instructional services while still maintaining a safe environment for students." The move, officials say, is part of a broader effort to re‑allocate funds toward academic programs, mental‑health services, and after‑school enrichment.

But the timing feels off to many parents, teachers and community advocates. A recent NYPD report revealed a 12 percent rise in violent incidents at schools over the past twelve months, with 73 cases classified as felonies — a figure that has ignited concerns about whether fewer safety agents will exacerbate the problem.

"It feels like a gamble with our kids’ safety," said Maria Torres, a mother of two elementary‑school students in Brooklyn. "We already hear about fights and weapons on campus. Cutting those officers could make things worse, not better."

City officials counter that safety agents are just one layer of a multi‑pronged strategy. They point to new partnerships with mental‑health counselors, increased deployment of school resource officers (SROs) from the NYPD, and a pilot program that trains teachers in de‑escalation techniques.

Critics argue, however, that the reliance on SROs has not stemmed the tide of violence and that more officers on the ground are needed. A coalition of teachers’ unions and parent groups has scheduled a hearing before the City Council’s Education Committee to press the administration for a clearer plan.

Financially, the cuts are projected to save the city about $18 million in the upcoming fiscal year. The Department of Education says the money will be redirected to expand tutoring, bilingual support, and trauma‑informed care — services they claim will address root causes of school‑based violence.

Whether those measures will offset the loss of nearly 300 safety agents remains to be seen. For now, the city walks a tightrope, balancing fiscal responsibility with the urgent call to keep its classrooms safe.