A month after the Newton school shooting rocked the nation; residents are still weighing in on gun control and school safety.

In many Monmouth County towns, schools are working with their police forces to ensure safety. In response to updates from Patch editors, readers are commenting that schools need more protection and using outlets on Patch to express their concerns and as a way to call others residents to action.

Marlboro made headlines earlier this month, when armed officers became a visible site in all Marlboro schools. In an article from Marlboro-Colts Neck Patch, the Marlboro Board of Education said that the decision to temporarily place officers in every school would cost the district an estimated $100,000 for 90 days. 

Other Monmouth County school districts have decided to increase school safety through other measures.

The Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD) has always had unarmed security guards in schools. In the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn. shooting, FRHSD Superintendent Charles Sampson said at a Board of Education meeting that the use of personnel was evaluated, including the deployment of school security officers and the utilization of teachers on duty periods. New changes to the security of the buildings include the installation of buzzer systems with cameras and having security guards man the areas by the entrance of the high school and at the delivery areas of the building.

Matawan Aberdeen Superintendent David Healy noted after the shooting that while the district's six schools have multiple security measures in place and that safety drills are practiced on a routine basis, they plan to look into any improvements that can be made.

"If there's anything that we can learn from this tragedy and take additional measures, we will," Healy said. 

After looking at your district’s response to the Newtown school shooting, are you happy with your school’s safety plan, or do you feel there should be more security such as armed guards in schools. Vote in our poll and tell us your opinion.