With anti-Semitic incidents on the rise in Florida, Jewish day schools are stepping up security with the promise of new funding from the state.
Gov. Rick Scott visited Brauser Maimonides Academy in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday to highlight the measure. It’s one of 35 private Jewish schools in the state that will share the $650,000 grant in this year’s budget.
“We want security for every child in our care,” said Brauser Maimonides Academy Head of School Rabbi Yossi Kastan. "For us, it’s a public and non-public school issue. We want to make sure that our students are safe and secure."
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But the funds have raised questions about funding schools of one religion over others — and over public schools.
“The Muslim community, Sihks … a lot of different immigrant communities are also suffering,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. “I don’t understand the governor’s responding to threats of violence against only one community and not others.”
The money will be used to for security cameras, bullet proof glass, alarm systems and security guards.
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