When Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Superintendent John J. Marciante, Jr. met with the Manalapan Police Department immediately after the Newtown, Conn. shooting, he told the department he was looking to raise funds to procure lockdown magnets for all school doors. The project was estimated to cost about $3,000.

Lockdown magnets are a simple device that allow teachers to secure their classroom doors without having to leave the classroom and use their keys.

After Marciante's request, Manalapan Police Chief Chris Marsala immediately contacted Captain Jeff Morrell and told him the amount of money needed to be raised for the magnets, Marsala explained at the Township Committee meeting last Wednesday.

Within four hours, Morrell was able to obtain $3,500 from various sources who all generously donated to the cause. Donors included:

• PBA President Ed Hedden
• SOA President Sgt. Kevin Dobbin
• Joe Amulavich from Joe’s Tree Service
• Carmen Reino from Reino Construction Company
• Pantano Nursery
• U.S. Grounds Landscaping
• Wegmans was also a donor— they didn’t have a representative that night.

Marsala presented a large check for $3,169 to the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School Board for the lockdown magnets at the Township Committee meeting. Marciante accepted the check on the Board's behalf.

The lockdown magnets were already installed in all of the district schools by Jan. 7. For more information on further security procedures implemented by the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District in the aftermath of the Newtown shooting, click here.

Marsala said that additional funds have been raised and Manalapan High School will also be receiving the donated lockdown magnets in its classrooms.