WOODCLIFF LAKE— Woodcliff Lake school officials will host a Security Forum on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Woodcliff Middle School to discuss a public question on the upcoming Nov. 5 ballot regarding the hiring of special law enforcement officers (SLEOs) at local schools.
The forum, led by the school administration and members of the SLEO Committee—including local police, parents, and school board members—will provide information about school security measures and the role of SLEOs at Dorchester Elementary School and Woodcliff Middle School.
The public question asks voters to approve a $180,000 permanent annual increase to the school tax levy, starting in the 2024-2025 school year, to fund the salaries, equipment, and training of two officers. Of the total amount, $150,424.20 would be for wages and taxes, with the remaining $29,575.80 allocated for equipment and training costs.
The referendum states: “In addition to the regular budget, should the Woodcliff Lake Board of Education raise an additional $180,000 in school taxes for the 2024-2025 school year? These taxes will be used for the hiring, equipping, and training of special law enforcement officers at Dorchester Elementary School and Woodcliff Middle School. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase to the school tax levy.”
A flier promoting the forum encourages residents to “learn more about the second question on the ballot, our layers of security, and the potential role of a SLEO in our schools.”
The public question is not currently listed on the district’s website, and school board meetings are in-person only, without live streaming or recording. The next board meeting will be held on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Board of Education Offices, 134 Woodcliff Ave.
Early voting begins Oct. 26 through Nov. 3 at nine countywide locations, including Tice Senior Center in Woodcliff Lake. Residents who signed up for vote-by-mail ballots should have received them, as they were mailed on Sept. 24. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 29.